#serlachius

Hard packages

2015

polyurethane foam, plaster, wood, e-waste

73 x 55 x 120 cm

The world is divided into five square windows here, two of which see me in profile, while the rest face my face. After days of sudden sun, a few peaceful ones with clouds and rain have come. The middle window frames a birch, half in lake, half in sky which are hard to differ now. This is how i have learnt their twigs resemble capillaries like any other tree which is to be admired especially now when they are naked and barren.

Serlachius Museums, part 1 Gösta: Mänttä, nowadays Mänttä-Vilppula is an old paper industry city in North-Pirkanmaa and is 208km north  from Helsinki (directly, as the crow flies). About 120 years the industrial dynasty in Mänttä was reigned by the Serlachius family. In the year 1986 G.A.Serlachius Oy (Inc.) merged with Metsäliiton Teollisuus Oy and the new company called Metsä-Serla was formed. Though the Serlachius family sold their shares later, there is still a tissue mill in Mänttä-Vilppula owned by Metsä Group.

Already during the early industrial era, the first two company head, Gustaf and Gösta focused to various arts and started to collect art and also to sponsor Finnish artists. The collection was remarkable and a foundation was formed. The museum was established and opened in the family manor Joenniemi 1945. Later the whole manor was renovated for museum use.

When the industrial activities were over, the museum activities expanded: the manor together with the completely new museum building (Gösta) and the former headquarters of Serlachius Oy (Gustaf) are what we know today as the Serlachius Museums. More about history here.