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Aalto University has established an invited art competition, the aim of which is to get feasible proposals for works of art located on the Otaniemi campus. The competition is open to members of the Aalto community and it runs between 1 June and 30 September 2020.

‘Aalto University promotes art and creativity in education and research as well as in its art acquisitions. With this competition, the university’s public art expands from campus buildings to outdoors. The competition encourages the whole multi-disciplinary Aalto community to participate in developing the campus areas common to us all,’ says Ossi Naukkarinen, Vice President for Research at Aalto University.

In line with the university’s new strategy, the main themes of the art competition are sustainability, radical creativity and entrepreneurship. The artwork should be made sustainably with regards to both durable materials and aesthetics. Works of art can act as signs for finding one’s way around in Otaniemi and can also be made of several parts which form a kind of a route, but this is not compulsory.

Take part as an individual or as a team

This art competition is for all Aalto community members (employees and students) who have a valid Aalto email address. When participating as a team, at least one team member must have a valid Aalto email address.  

The works can be proposed in the vicinity of Aalto University metro station, the Undergraduate Centre, the Harald Herlin Learning Centre and Dipoli, in four different locations. It should be noted that the Otaniemi campus is historically a remarkable place, yet it is just as importantly a place for building our future.

The winner of the competition will be announced after a jury has made their selection in November 2020. The jury consists of:

Ossi Naukkarinen – vice president for research at Aalto University (chair)
Eeti Ahola – student at the School of Engineering and student union representative
Aapo Pihkala – campus project manager
Ville Jokela – managing director of Aalto University Campus and Real Estate
Julia Lohman – professor at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Elisa Mekler – professorat the School of Science
Alice Wickström – doctoral candidate at the School of Business.

Aalto University Art Coordinator Outi Turpeinen will coordinate the selection process.

The vision of public art at Aalto University

In 2017, Aalto University decided to comply with a one per cent art principle in its building projects. The campus art competition is the university’s fifth project, where approximately one per cent of a building project's allocation is allocated to art purchases. The one per cent art principle was first applied to the Radical Nature art concept in Aalto University’s main building, Dipoli.   

The vision of public art at Aalto University is to address and raise questions about what it is to be a university, what we do together in society, and what constitutes the public. Public art is site-specific and connects with the diversity of the university and its post-disciplinary communities. Public artworks reflect this diversity through different art forms, materials, techniques and traditions.

More information
Outi Turpeinen, Art Coordinator
outi.turpeinen@aalto.fi