World peace (sculpture)

World Peace
Finnish: Maailman rauha
ArtistOleg Kiryuhin
Year1990
SubjectWorld peace
Dimensions650 cm (260 in)
Conditionbronze
LocationHelsinki
Coordinates60°10′41.28″N 024°57′12.55″E / 60.1781333°N 24.9534861°E / 60.1781333; 24.9534861

World peace (Finnish: Maailman rauha or Rauha maailmalle,[1] Swedish: Världsfreden, Russian: Мир во всем мире) is a bronze sculpture donated by the city of Moscow, Russia to the city of Helsinki, Finland, created by sculptor Oleg Kiryuhin. The sculpture was located at Hakaniemenranta in Helsinki, and it was revealed on 14 January 1990, two months after the Berlin Wall had been broken. The sculpture belongs to the collection of the Helsinki Art Museum.[2] The sculpture was moved to storage on 8 August 2022, as part of the wave of monuments and memorials removal following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The sculpture is 6.5 metres tall. It represents people representing different continents of the world holding the world decorated with tree leaves with one of their arms. The people in the statue have made fists with their hands not holding the world to represent a demonstration for the cause of world peace.

The sculpture has caused much controversy in Finland. In 2008 it was chosen as both the third ugliest and the third most loved sculpture in Helsinki in a readers' poll held in newspapers.[3][4]

In August 2022 the sculpture was moved away from Hakaniemenranta because of construction of the Crown Bridges project.[5][6] The sculpture was moved along the sea on a barge to storage in eastern Uusimaa.[7][8][9]

The sculpture was placed in storage and a pedestrian walkway will be built in its place.[8][5][6] According to the Helsinki Art Museum, the sculpture will be returned near its current location after the construction.[8]

  1. ^ Hasan, David: Tältä näyttäisi veistosten Hakaniemi, Helsingin Sanomat 15 June 1986, p. 24. Accessed on 11 March 2022.
  2. ^ Oleg Kirjuhin: Maailman rauha, Helsinki Art Museum. Accessed on 11 March 2022.
  3. ^ Mattila, Jorma J.: IL:n lukijat äänestivät: Rytin patsas on rumin, Iltalehti 6 May 2008. Accessed on 26 November 2009.
  4. ^ Seuri, Ville: Varsapuistikon Äidinrakkaus on Helsingin rakastetuin veistos, Helsingin Sanomat 17 July 2008. Accessed on 8 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b Hirvonen, Saara; Rita, Mikko: Hakaniemen Maailman rauha -veistos siirretään pois työmaan tieltä, YLE 7 March 2022. Accessed on 10 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b Kallionpää, Katri: Mikael Jungnerin tervaamaksikin joutunut Maailman rauha -patsas häädetään paikaltaan Hakaniemessä – Raitiotie työntyy sosialistista realismia henkivän teoksen päälle, Helsingin Sanomat 10 September 2018.
  7. ^ Hemmilä, Ilkka: Kiistelty Maailman rauha lipui pois Hakaniemestä aamulla – professorilta selkeä näkemys patsaan kohtalosta, Ilta-Sanomat 8 August 2022. Accessed on 8 August 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Huuskonen, Sirpa; Niemi, Liisa: Helsinki siirtää Neuvostoliitosta lahjana saadun Maailman rauha -veistoksen varastoon rakennustöiden takia, Helsingin Sanomat 7 March 2022. Accessed on 10 March 2022.
  9. ^ Veistokset | Helsingin Hakaniemessä nähtiin aamulla harvinainen operaatio: Kuusimetrisen patsaan siirtoon tarvittiin proomu, Helsingin Sanomat 8 August 2022. Accessed on 8 August 2022.