ar mar 03 design review web

6/18/03

12:20 PM

Page 38

design review

T IMBER CONSTRUCTIONS , F INLAND

DESIGNER
J AAKKO P ERNU

Jaakko Pernu is a sculptor and

land artist who makes remarkably
intricate yet monumental
constructions using wood. In
Finland, blessed with a
superabundance of trees, wood
has assumed the status of
national material, its expressive
and regenerative qualities forging
a powerful connection with the
Finnish psyche. Pernus father
was a boatbuilder, so since
childhood he was exposed to the
tactile and sensory nature of
timber and gained an appreciation
of its technical potential how it
could be cut, shaped and jointed.
Since the late 80s, when he
completed his studies at the Lahti
Institute of Fine Arts, Pernu has
lived and worked in remote
northern Finland, drawing
inspiration from its huge boreal
forests and subtle Nordic light.
His favourite wood is willow,
both cheap and plentiful and also
1

Wood spirit
38 | 3

Finnish artist Jaakko Pernu makes works that explore both

the physical properties and symbolic dimensions of wood.

relatively easy to work, due to its

inherent strength and suppleness.
Symbolically, willow is associated
with the moon, water and rebirth
it regenerates very quickly and
its flowering marks the beginning
of spring. Its bark also contains
valuable pain relieving properties,
exploited for centuries in
traditional herbal medicine. In
Pernus extraordinary
constructions slender willow
members are joined using the
simplest of techniques usually
just nails and screws although
Pernu is beginning to experiment
with glues to create lattice-like
arrangements that have a curious
delicacy, despite their huge scale.
One of Pernus largest works,
The Ground Beneath, was created
during a six month placement at
Oulu Artists Workshop. Set in a
forest clearing, its arboreal form
was inspired by the surrounding
trees. A cubic frame was

constructed from 25 woven

willow poles that taper gently
upwards like tree trunks or
organ pipes. Dried and unpeeled
willow members were
painstakingly meshed together to
form a lacey timber cage,
suspended 3m above the ground.
The effect is of a compact
manmade forest (albeit
permanently denuded) set within
a real forest. At night, the
structure is dramatically
illuminated, casting angular
shadows through the clearing.
Though rooted in a practical
craft sensibility, Pernus inventive
and intuitive explorations of
wood draw deeply on
folkloric associations with
dreaming and enchantment to
distil the materials fundamental
essence. C. S.
Photographs
2, 4, 5 Jaakko Pernu; 1, Markku Siekkinen;
3, Jukke Pailos

5
1
Pernus arboreally-inspired The
Ground Beneath, a manmade forest
set in a real one.
2
Sky is the Limit, consisting of a trio of
8m high willow columns.
3
Horn resembles surreal topiary.
4, 5
Work in progress for The Ground
Beneath slender willow members
are nailed and screwed together to
form intricate constructions.

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