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labyrinth - index
forest - LABYRINTH PROJECT │metsä - LABYRINTTI PROJEKTI

labyrinth project
The labyrinth in Saksala ArtRadius is finally a maze. It is the first maze
in Finland, because there is no Finnish tradition in building mazes.
Finland has several labyrinths on different places and art centre Saksala
ArtRadius is proud to introduce this exiting phenomenon of the maze in this
Nordic country. The maze (labyrinth) is in ongoing development with new paths
and art installations, projects and initiatives.
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map of the location - X marks the spot
blue part: the art centre area 5 hectare
green part: labyrinth area 1 hectare
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history
Historic Saksala is located on a ridge with the same name in Haukivuori.
The Saksala rock is the largest monolith in Europe left over from the glacial period.
Very early already there was settlement on the location.
The road Mikkeli Pieksämäki follows the ridge and Haukivuori is halfway.
As long as one can remember there was an inn which served as a resting place for travelers.
Because the fields are very fertile, there is a farm area on the ridge, they are the best in the whole area.
After World War II the municipality of Haukivuori transformed Saksala into an old people’s home.
In 1989 it was abandoned.
The fields were overgrown with trees and bushes, resembling a wilderness.
In 1995 two hectares were planted with trees.
Due to lack of maintenance it never became a forest.
In 2003 half of this ‘forest’ was reclaimed by a farmer and is now a lost, strange piece of jungle.
In 2007 this part is transformed into a LABYRINTH created by artists.
During the years artists will be invited to add installations, sculptures and acts into the LABYRINTH.
The area was a neglected forest with young trees such as pine, birch and rowan.
The trees are growing very close together.
The place is an historical location and the LABYRINTH is connecting the past with the future.
The artists can either embrace the past or they can seek contrast.
The physical as well as the mental experience which the visitor has is what makes this forest into a place of contemplation – giving it a new meaning.
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the condition of the wooded area of the labyrinth before the start of the project
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a view on the LABYRINTH after the first part of the realization May 2007
with new projects the content of the LABYRINTH will develop
in spring 2008 there will be a INSTALLATION SYMPOSIUM to create creative
and inventive installations on different places in the LABYRINTH
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