Grey January

Lanu Park in Lahti was built between 1989 and 1992. The city of Lahti commissioned a total of 12 sculptures from Olavi Lanu to be placed in the deciduous Kariniemenmäki forest. The starting point of the sculptures was the body of work Lanu created for the Venice Biennale in 1978, entitled Life in the Finnish Forest, in which he explored the relationship between humanity and nature in various ways. Cast in concrete at the Renkomäki gravel pit, the sculptures in the park imitate natural materials. Blending in with their surroundings, the sculptures were all sited by the artist himself.

Olavi Lanu (1925–2015) was a visual artist, teacher and prominent figure in the Lahti art scene.

Grey January depicts a male and female figure standing close together, arms wrapped around each other. The two tightly embracing figures form a monolithic whole, radiating warmth even when covered by a blanket of snow. The concrete sculpture is unified in its overall appearance, an unassuming yet boldly stylised sculpture that, rather than distancing the viewer with its mystery, presents its timeless theme in a way that cultivates a connection, inviting the viewer’s emotions and thoughts. As it engages with its surroundings, the sculpture even takes on dramatic tones. On the surface of the work, one can see the shapes of icicles created when the artist bathed the piece in icy water in –30° sub-zero temperatures.

Artwork on the map

In Lanu Sculpture Park. – Kariniemenpuistotie 49, Lahti.
View on Google Maps