The name of the new airport landmark was discovered through an open competition organised by Finavia. The competition received 1,347 suggestions. The name of the artwork is Skydreamer.
The competition received plenty of name suggestions, more than anticipated in advance. According to author and member of the jury Kari Hotakainen, the number of suggestions describes the interest in Lindfors’s sculpture and its name.
“Skydreamer is a great and suitable name for Lindfors’s sympathetic sculpture. The name is a little wild, as is the sculpture,” says Hotakainen.
“The name brings to mind travelling, flying, dreaming and wanderlust. It is associated with the unique atmosphere of departing and arriving that can only be seized at an airport,” says Helsinki Airport Director Ville Haapasaari, giving the reasons behind the choice.
The name suggestion Skydreamer was submitted by Ulla Madetoja. Her prize was a flight simulator experience. The jury’s decision was unanimous.
Lindfors’s 16-metre-tall sculpture moves in the wind like a giant weather vane. The sculpture’s massive sail not only works as its source of energy but also as a big screen. The projectors attached to the creature’s wings reflect messages for guests arriving at the airport.
“My sculpture is a flying fantasy. It will eternally and unpredictably keep on moving above us, fueled by the wind. The artwork presents a new dimension of itself when it speaks to us through a reflected image, telling new stories and information day after day, year after year,” says Lindfors.
According to Lindfors, the winged sculpture resembles a bird, which is a symbol of aviation and communication bringing together different nations. It is especially well suited for the airport, especially now that Helsinki Airport is renewing and expanding through Finavia’s significant investment programme.
The Skydreamer sculpture as the symbol of the airport is a continuum for Finavia’s Art Port concept that aims at offering passengers new and surprising services. Airport experiences are a great way of standing out among other possible international transfer airports. Art also has a positive effect on passengers’ satisfaction, which is why it also forms a part of developing Finavia’s customer experience.
Helsinki Airport is going through Finavia’s development programme, worth EUR 900 million. The purpose of the programme is to strengthen the position of Helsinki Airport in both the international competition between airports and as a significant air traffic hub between Europe and Asia. An internationally competitive airport is important for the wellbeing of all of Finland and helps to maintain good flight connections for Finns to all destinations around the world. The expansion will allow the airport to serve 30 million passengers annually.
The name competition’s jury included Airport Director Ville Haapasaari, author Kari Hotakainen, interior architect and sculptor Stefan Lindfors as well as SVP, Marketing and Corporate Communications Katja Siberg and Development Manager Merja Haapanen from Finavia.
