The Mediator

The Mediator, a memorial by sculptor Kirsi Kaulanen, was unveiled in Helsinki on November 25, 2023, to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of former Finnish President Mauno Koivisto. Situated in Pikkuparlamentti Park, the memorial honours Koivisto’s memory and his distinguished lifetime achievements.

Mauno Henrik Koivisto served as President of Finland from 1982 to 1994. A war veteran, bank governor, Doctor of Philosophy, Prime Minister, and ultimately President, he is remembered for championing Finland’s accession to the European Union. Koivisto passed away in Helsinki on May 12, 2017, and is buried at Hietaniemi Cemetery.

The Prime Minister’s Office organised an open memorial competition in 2021, attracting 110 approved proposals. Kirsi Kaulanen’s The Mediator was selected as the winner.

Composed of rhythmically repeated organic slatted forms, the sculpture stands six metres high and fifteen metres long. Its design invites visitors to pass through it: two parts straddle the park’s central walkway, enclosed within a large stone circle. The high-polish stainless steel was chosen for its durability, while illumination – both from ground level and overhead lampposts – is an integral part of the sculpture and its visual impact.

The memorial is a site-specific installation inspired by Koivisto’s achievements, the park environment, and the flow of people passing through it. “The site itself is very fluid and dynamic. I sought to capture a similar sense of fluidity in the forms of the memorial, which essentially consist of lines – or arcs of thought – that merge into a harmonious whole. The lines define the contours of the forms, and the forms create an experiential space that invites people to step inside and explore,” explains the artist.

Kaulanen describes the sculpture as representing Koivisto’s presidential role as a mediator between East and West. The work encourages visitors to walk through it, reflecting both literally and metaphorically, prompting contemplation of how each of us might nurture peace – both internal and external – in our own lives. The ascending forms symbolise the trajectory of Koivisto’s career, culminating in Finland’s accession to the EU. The organic shapes also reflect facets of his personality: “Side B depicts Koivisto as a stable and dependable philosophical thinker. Side A is more complex, symbolising the difficult questions he grappled with. Overall, the work is infused with humour and a rich spectrum of deeply human qualities.”

Kirsi Kaulanen (b. 1969) is a sculptor based in Porvoo. Her work is distinguished by dialogues between humans, natural elements, and other species, and by the interplay of light and shadow, clean steel lines, and forms sometimes evoking machinery. Her public sculptures include Big Girl (2003) at the Annantalo Arts Centre in Helsinki, and the paired works Cool Tussock and Pink Nature (2005) at Haartman Hospital.

The memorial was commissioned by the Prime Minister’s Office and donated to the City of Helsinki. Like all presidential memorials, it has been accessioned to the City of Helsinki’s art collection, administered by HAM Helsinki Art Museum.