The Wednesday evening while I was in Helsinki was generally sunny. I’d planned a visit to HAM, the Helsinki Art Museum which was just round the corner from my hotel. When I’d finished looking around the exhibitions it was still sunny so I decided to take a walk over to the Sibelius Monument.
Designed by Eila Hiltunen, who was the winner of a competition organised by the Sibelius Society. The monument is sited in Sibelius Park, close to the sea, in the Töölö district.
It’s made up of approximately 600 hand-textured acid-proof stainless steel tubes of various diameters, welded together in a wave like pattern. The abstract form resulted in some controversy when it was first installed on September 7, 1967.
Personally, glittering in the sunshine, I rather liked it.
Close by the Monument there’s a sculpture of the face of Sibelius, added by the artist in response to some of the ctiticisms
It’s a “must see” for visitors to Helsinki, so during the daytime is likely to be surrounded with swarms of tourists arriving by coach. However, on a sunny evening I had it almost to myself.
Down by the Dougie 
Do the tubes play music when the wind blows through them? I think its pretty, too and it makes me think of musical instruments and waves of sound. Quite evocative.
I guess there would be music when the wind was blowing as I’m sure there would be resonance in the tubes. It was still, though, on the day I visited
And I agree with your (poetic 😀) observations about instruments and waves of sound
I do like the pipe structure..the face well, I like the pipes. =) Nice face, but my first reaction was: creepy. Again, we know I’m not a modern art officianado so I’ll take my peasant ways elsewhere. =)
Each to their own! I did like the monument but not so keen on the face which was, apparently, an afterthought to keep critics happy.
Ah! I remember it well. August 1968. Must have been a still day then as I don’t remember hearing anything.