In Sight, Out of Sight

Emmi Jormalainen’s work In Sight, Out of Sight has been installed in the newly renovated Daycare Ensi linja. Two large trees take shape on the staircase walls of this historically significant, prestigious building. The roots of the trees stretch all the way to the basement, and their trunks rise from one landing to the next, with the canopies reaching the third floor of the building.

The work is like a story unfolding as children move from floor to floor. Each floor has its own small ecosystem and reality, with a different animal taking the lead. By recognising the signature animal children can easily remember their own group’s home floor.

Jormalainen created the original images primarily using pencils, which allowed for detailed yet atmospheric drawings. After digitisation, the illustrations were coloured and finally printed as wallpaper covering eight walls.

In Sight, Out of Sight has been seamlessly integrated with the historic building, but it also refers to the nearby park. “A tree is life. Many kinds of insects, animals, birds, plants, and fungi – and the children of this day-care centre – live in and around the tree’s shelter. When you slow down and stop to observe your environment, you find lots of different animals who have found habitats amid human built environments. As the loss of biodiversity accelerates, animal species seek shelter from urban areas. I have met most of these animals along the shore of Tokoinlahti or elsewhere in Kallio. In Sight, Out of Sight reveals the diversity of life around us,” Jormalainen says.

Emmi Jormalainen (MA) is a Helsinki-based illustrator and graphic designer who combines drawing and visual storytelling in her works. She has published various silent books – books without words – and illustrated around 30 children’s books. Her works feature recurring themes of nature and animals.

The work belongs to the City of Helsinki’s art collection, which is managed and curated by HAM.