Nurmijärvi farm opens park of Jesus sculptures

A new sculpture park depicting the life of Jesus has opened on a farm in Nurmijärvi, about 40 kilometres from Helsinki, Yle reports. Five bronze sculptures by American artist Angela Johnson are currently on display.

The Kulje Kanssani art park is being developed on the farm’s grounds. When complete, it could feature as many as 48 statues arranged in 14 groups across an area of about three hectares, Johnson said. Creating a large work can take up to nine years.

Johnson’s sculptures are made in her home city of Lehi, Utah, where a similar park has already opened. She said she likes placing the works in a park rather than a cathedral or church, calling the idea radical. The Bible often depicts Jesus in nature, she said, and she hopes visitors will find peace among the sculptures.

Farm owner Matti Roto is funding the project with donors from the United States who belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, previously known as the Mormon church. Roto is also a member of the church.

The project began after Roto’s wife emailed him about the sculptures. He was initially not interested, but changed his mind after seeing pictures of the works. “Because of that message, we have a sculpture park here today,” he said.

The park aims to give people the chance to experience and touch sculpture in the Finnish countryside, Roto said.