Espoo celebrates!

This article has originally been published in the Espoo Magazine 3/2022.

Read other articles in the Espoo Magazine 3/2022

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Instead of just one day, this year we will be celebrating the city for an entire week. This Espoo Celebrates! week forms part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Espoo as a city. 

Kotikulmilla [In Your Neighbourhood] is a workshop on the waterfront in Matinkylä that encourages residents to take a fresh look at familiar surroundings. 

“We encourage people to slow down, to look at their environment from different perspectives and to explore the unknown,” says Espoo-based artist and designer Greta Muuri. 

Workshop participants are given maps with various tasks related to the immediate vicinity. These can be completed at one’s own pace. 

“The focus is on looking, on exploring feelings and on encountering the urban milieu and the natural environment. Participants can share their experiences if they wish,” Muuri explains. 

The Kotikulmilla workshop was born when Muuri met writer and researcher Ieva Laube and artist and designer Ines Masanti in an earlier inclusive art project. They began to think about how art could inspire residents to take more notice of their everyday environment and to see familiar places with new eyes. 

In Matinkylä, they were inspired by nature, urban culture, history and special sites such as the historical Pirunpelto [literally ‘devil’s field’], a shoreline accumulation of loose rocks] near the metro station. 

The meeting place is on Matinkylä beach where you can also have a picnic or paint postcards. 

“We were inspired by old landscape postcards that we found, so we wanted to give people an opportunity to make their own.” 

Kotikulmilla [In Your Neighbourhood] workshop on Matinkylä beach, 25 August, 16:00–20:00 

“I have an intuitive vision of what will happen, but the audience does not know of it beforehand. This sets the stage for surprises and engagement,” says drummer and percussionist Tatu Rönkkö. 

The anniversary week includes a series of five concerts by Rönkkö, combining elements of concerts, performance art and community art. 

Rönkkö is known for creating music by using everyday objects and the built environment. He has previously performed in private kitchens and on the Karhunkierros nature trail. 

In Espoo, his instrument is the city itself. 

“I use buildings, statues and park benches. I improvise, combining the acoustic sounds of objects with electronics,” he explains. 

His performances will take place in suburbs, in Nuuksio and in public buildings. Anyone can attend them.  

Rönkkö wishes to disrupt the conventional set-up where the musician is on stage and the audience just sits and listens. 

“The audience will be up close, anyone can join in, everyone is equal. You can take a step into the unknown and find new insights.” 

For him, this is music that goes back to the very roots of what music is, a shared rhythm and a shared experience. 

One of the new events devised for the anniversary week is the Celebration Carnival, which will visit five different locations.  

“The Carnival is a series of low-threshold events that are easy to attend. We will bring the events to where people are, including venues not usually used for such events, such as the Vanttila City Garden,” says Production Assistant Senja Rapila. 

The concept of the Carnival emerged from the desire to create special anniversary year events in different parts of the city. 

“Kauklahti, Saunalahti and Vanttila are examples of districts that have grown rapidly but have been overlooked as far as organising events is concerned. We wanted to take the Celebration Carnival to places where events are not usually held,” says Rapila. 

The urban carnival was developed in collaboration with local businesses, associations and residents. There are dozens of operators involved in the numerous events comprising the carnival. 

Associations and businesses were eager to join in, both by directly approaching the organisers and through social media and other online channels. 

“Social media and the Espoo Day website were particularly good at getting people’s attention. The reception has been positive. Having said that, many operators already had plans in place for the Espoo Celebrates! week before the summer, which limited their potential for participating in the Celebration Carnival,” Rapila explains. 

“You will see and experience all kinds of things here. It’s easy to join in. My hot tips include Nadja Böckerman, five-time national champion in dog dancing, in Järvenperä, a joint concert by the Espoo Wind Band and the Los Pan Pan steel band in Vanttila, and an unplugged gig by Aleksanteri Hakaniemi in Oittaa,” Rapila says. 

All events are free of charge and open to everyone. 

• 23 August 16:00–20:00 Marketta Park, Järvenperä 
• 24 August 16:00–20:00 Alberga Park 
• 25 August 16:00–20:00 Lillhemt Park and Lukutori, Suurpelto 
• 26 August 17:00–21:00 Oittaa 
• 27 August 12:00–19:00 Vanttila City Garden