Oulu-based artist Anni Arffman (1985–) has created a circus-themed whole, Circus Arrives in Heinäpää, commissioned by Museum and Science Centre Luuppi, for the new Heinätori day-care centre. In the artworks, travelling circus animals go on an adventure in the district of Heinäpää on an early 20-century August night teaching circus tricks to local domestic and wild animals. The animal encounters turn into stories that inspire imagination and play for the children in the day-care centre.
The percentage-based art purchase includes two indoor works and one outdoor work. The dining room and staircase feature laser-painted murals: Circus Arrives in Heinäpää and Heinätori Water Tower. On the wall in the courtyard of the kindergarten is a work called Trick Time, where the animal figures are executed in ultraviolet-protected adhesive tape affixed on cut aluminium composite bases. The laser paintings were done by Suomen Lasermaalaus, and the tapings were implemented by Tarratalli.
Anni Arffman: Circus Arrives in Heinäpää, 2023, photograph: Mika Friman
The artist has also designed many animal motifs that are used in the safety laminates of the numerous glass walls and doors in the interior and as decals for the partition walls in the toilets. The amusing animal characters are also featured in the curtains, also designed by the artist. The curtain fabric has been produced in five different colours. The fireproof fabrics have been produced by Eija Nevala Design and have been printed by Printscorpio. The curtains have obtained with the day-care centre’s interior furniture budget.
In the early stages of the percentage art project, Päivi Karppinen, the director of the Heinätori day-care centre, expressed the wish that the history of the area be considered. After receiving the commission, Arffman found a text in Atte Kalajoki’s book Oulun taloja ja tarinoita (“Houses and Stories of Oulu”) that recalled Heinäpää’s history with circus. “The book had a story on how circuses used to organise decoy parades. In one of the stories an unsuspecting farmer’s wife from out of town had met the author on Church Street saying she had just seen an elephant. To me, this vision of a low wooden house in Heinäpää, a huge elephant and the stunned lady was a very funny and exotic combination,” says the artist. It turned out that Heinäpää has been a central place in Oulu’s circus history. Travelling circuses would perform at the riding arena near the Heinätori (“Hay Market”) square and the new Heinätori (today known as Kyösti Kallio Park) in the 19th and 20th centuries. At the same time, Arffman also notes that the treatment of animals and people in circus history is not only a happy story: “That is why I wanted to free the animals from their shackles and have the encounter take place during the night while they enjoy their freedom. The animals play tricks together, but voluntarily.”
Anni Arffman: Trick Time, 2023, photograph: Mika Friman
Another sign of the successful collaboration between the artist and the day care centre that is integrated into the everyday work at the day care centre is that Anni Arffman’s visual motifs, such as cotton candy, popcorn, tricksters and acrobats, are reflected in the names of the day-care groups.
The Heinätori day care centre opened in August 2023 in a setting of cultural and historical value next to the old Heinätori school, built in 1875 in Hollihaka. The new two-storey building, designed by architects Avario Oy and built by Rakennusliike Häyrynen, has facilities for five day-care groups and two pre-school groups, as well as a canteen that also serves the Heinätori school. The main designer of the building was Matti Haikola, while the interior was designed by Hanne Juola. Heinätori Day Care Centre is the only day-care centre in Oulu that provides 24-hour care.
Anni Arffman’s works are located in Heinätori Day Care Centre at Torikatu 45, 90120 Oulu.