This is how the artists of the Käärijä mural comment on their work: “Great to be part of the phenomenon”
Take a peek at how the Käärijä mural is being painted! Vantaa Channel's video will take you on a crane to a paintbrush's length away from the large mural. The artists describe the mural while working on it.
Three artists cooperate on Tikkurila's Käärijä mural: Viivi ”Viv Magia” Vierinen is responsible for the Käärijä figure, Joonas ”Koponee” Koponen for the calligraphy, while Juha Lahtinen paints the background. The trio also designed the work of art.
“I have never before made letters amounting to 1.5 meters. It has been fun to write this big,” calligraphist Joonas ”Koponee” Koponen smiles at the bottom of the mural.
The artists had to build a giant compass to fit in familiar words from Käärijä’s song Cha Cha Cha into the painting. The mural is of impressive size: 385 squares. The mural - placed on Tikkurila Prisma's sidewall - begins at the height of around nine meters and will reach up to approximately thirty meters at its highest.
“Quite a giant mural. We have had to do almost everything on a crane, and after a day's work, you can feel the strain caused by working on a large space in your muscles,” visual artist Juha Lahtinen says.
Typical pose and familiar colors
The work of art shows Käärijä's typical expression, as well as colors connected with Käärijä, starting with the familiar green bolero.
“The result is bold, expressive, and colorful,” street artist Viv Magia puts in a nutshell.
“We decided on this expression, because it is immediately connected with Käärijä. It is his typical pose, one could say. It is sure to arouse opinions; whether the tongue may or may not be seen, but that is just the purpose of art, to arouse feelings or opinions,” she adds.
According to the artists, passers-by have given a lot of positive feedback on the painting: People sing Cha Cha Cha on Tikkuraitti, and many people also dance past the painting, instead of walking.
“It was a great opportunity to be allowed to participate in this Käärijä phenomenon. Really cool,” Joonas Koponen sums up.
At the end of the video, the artists send their greetings to Käärijä.
“Keep on wrapping.”
Despite the delays caused by rain, painting of the mural is almost done. The mural is scheduled to be completed by the end of September.
