Kalle Turakka Purhonen (born 1974) is a multi-artist graduated from Helsinki Academy of Fine Arts.
Christmas Star – Street life
”Christmas Star – Street life” is a work I did at 2007 as a part of an urban enviromental art happening ”Hybridea”.
”Christmas Star” is a sculpture made of traffic control cones. I like the strong colors of traffic control materials. I have exhibited ”Christmas Star” also in more traditional space in Turku art museum.
In”Christmas Star – Street life” I moved the Christmas Star sculpture around Helsinki for a five weeks in spring 2007. I started at my studio in Vallila and slowly travelled through the city. I carried the Christmas Star comfortably for a few blocks each day and locked it up somewhere in the street for the night. I chose some place where one could for example leave a bicycle. I did not ask any permission for my work from any official authoroty – in the sculpture there was a little flag with my phone number, in case of some trouble. I travelled from the industrial areas, through the city center to the wealthier surroundings by the sea.
During the time of the work the city of Helsinki had a quite a hostile policy concerning graffities. In a way I wanted participate that conversation. I wanted independently bring an artwork into the city space. Something that would fit in quite naturally, but would also cheer up fellow citizens with its strangeness.
