Art Concept
The art concept, Burning Time, has been developed in collaboration with Public Art Agency Finland, an organization specialising in public art. The surroundings of Astra represent various historical layers. The most prominent layer from recent history is the Gadolinia building, completed in 1969, with its structure preserved within the new construction. Archaeological excavations on the site have revealed traces of buildings predating the Great Fire of Turku, with the fire itself visible as a layer of charred earth. These locations are thus tied to time, carrying traces and memories from different eras that lie beneath the visible architectural structures. These historical layers endow the site with a multidimensional identity.
The foundation follows the percent principle, dedicating approximately one percent of the construction budget to art within and around the building.
The art of Astra seeks to reveal the intensity of time. In Astra’s artistic vision, time is not necessarily a linear, forward-driven flow, but rather a movement whose voices emerge from the earth’s layer of sediment.
Time is also something we experience. Despite a shared standard of time, we perceive it differently in various situations–sometimes it seems to crawl, while other times, days fly by. The sustainably crafted art in Astra makes time measurable and shareable in a way that feels accessible.
The different artworks placed throughout the spaces represent unique “time zones” or time layers, making the art accessible to the diverse users of the space.
The Concept
The art concept of Astra för Astra can be expressed through three separate projects.
PROJECT 1
Deep Time – Outdoor Art
Buildings from different eras around Astra visibly reveals various layers of time. Outdoor art creates a connection beyond these visible layers to the concept of deep time. Over time, the artwork may gradually evolve, as materials change and respond to natural or cosmic cycles, drawing variations in light or shifts in the material itself.
An outdoor art installation can consist of one or multiple components. The installation enriches Astra’s courtyard, creating its own layer to the multifaceted identity of the site and depth of meaning for visitors. It can serve as a landmark or enhance the space’s function as a place for relaxation and social interaction.
Read more: Hilda Hellström’s work wins Astra’s art competition for invited artists.
PROJECT 2
Over Time – The Integrated Indoor Environment
Architecturally, Astra’s indoor environment unites the preserved elements of the Gadolinia building from the 1960s, with the contemporary layer of the 2020s. The interior features a refined and intentional use of materials. Indoors, the art collection is closely connected to our present era and recorded history.
The approach can also involve exploring urgent issues of our time, especially those emerging from within the community of Åbo Akademi University.
Read more: Artwork by Turku artist Jouna Karsi commissioned for Astra.
PROJEKT 3
Encounters in Time – Abstract Artwork
The third art project explores the possibilities that art offers on a conceptual level or in the present moment. This intangible work may connect to shared experiences, transience, and visions of the future. It could incorporate physical elements or take on a more immaterial form, delving into cycles of time.
Read more: Unique Performance Artwork by Nastja Säde Rönkkö for Astra
