Page 3 - Pororaitoesite_inEnglish

The cityscape is never constant. It transforms and changes.Vivid and diverse
cities are built by natural cycles and through people’s actions. Urban art com-
pletes, fills, creates and beautifies public space. Public art binds people to the
location in which they live. Cities are a source of inspiration for artists, whose
artworks comment on location and the related history and future.

The City of Rovaniemi realised the Pororaito (reindeer caravan) project, part-
funded by the County Administrative Board of Lapland, with the purpose of
animating the cityscape with the help of art and design as well as to increase
Rovaniemi’s attractiveness as a cultural destination. In the project, high-quality
public artworks were sought for the cityscape of Rovaniemi, with significances
influencing the area’s image. The ready artworks enliven the cityscape and,
eventually, become the city’s landmarks.

The project co-operation with the Artists’Association of Lapland was reward-
ing and productive, since the artists were very interested in developing their
city with artistic means. The control group of the project chose for realisation
the proposed artworks by four artists, which transformed into high-quality and
unique artworks in the cityscape of Rovaniemi. The artworks were completed
in 2008.

Marja Widenius
Cultural Director