Tapio Junno: Love and Alertness, 1973. © Photo: HAM Helsinki Art Museum / Hanna Kukorelli Love and Alertness Artist Tapio Junno Orpaanporras 5, Helsinki, Helsinki In the sculpture Love and Alertness Tapio Junno (1940-2006) has reduced the human figure to basic symbols. The mouth, ear and eye set atop columns appear as the totems of the fragmented Western world. Appearing to be separate, these symbols of the senses are nevertheless attached to the same pedestal, allowing the viewer to make the connection between them. The senses complement each other and act together. Indeed, the name Love and Vigilance implies an idea of unity and wholeness. The work has become extremely popular with children. It offers a wonderful place to play. The over three meter high sculpture is dated 1976 and it is cast in bronze. Tapio Junno studied at the different art schools and Taideteollisessa oppilaitoksessa sekä Suomen taideakatemian koulussa. He was the young artist of the Helsinki festival in 1987. The sculpures by Junno are often in bronze with a certain part uplighted by polishing. He has done a few memorials, for example the writer Pentti Haanpää and artist Helene Schjerfbeck memorials. The work belongs to the City of Helsinki’s art collection, which is managed and curated by HAM. At map
