Sibelius-monumentti

Alright, don't shoot the messenger. I know this is a famous piece of artwork but it didn't do it for me. It was pretty to see but I'm not sure I would have put as much effort in to see it a second time. Good news is, it's located in a beautiful park and only a stone's throw from the famous Regatta cafe by the water (order the hot chocolate!) so the activities pair beautifully. It was about a 30-35 minute walk from the heart of downtown.

Dramatic! Musical! Majestic! Everything You Want In A Monument!
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sibelius-monumentti-helsinki?select=0agOGb02lkLcG3qjlPX5Bg&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w

SITREP

The Sibelius Monument in Finland was a fun stop my last trip to Helsinki. It is a dramatic piece created by Eila Hiltunen that is dedicated to the maestro himself, Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957).
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sibelius-monumentti-helsinki?select=SVP47RKDFdsaU-xb6W9z5w&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w

THE SETUP

Obviously through no mere coincidence, the Sibelius Monument is located in Sibelius Park here in Helsinki, the capital city of Finland. It was unveiled on September 7, 1967 and had won a competition that was organized by the Sibelius Society the maestro's death in 1957.

THE MONUMENT!

The monument continues to spark discussion, but it's design provides a lot of enjoyment by visitors - such as myself - to check out the acoustic oddities we can encounter when positioned below the stylized organ pipes.

It consists of more than 600 hollow steel pipes welded together in a soundwave-fashion, weighs 26, measures 28 ft × 34 ft × 21 ft, and, safe to say, calls a LOT of attention to itself!
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sibelius-monumentti-helsinki?select=YCPh2LseKZHWfg4Vi_XGOA&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w

Interestingly enough, there is a miniature of the monument located at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

THE LOWDOWN

A noteworthy sightseeing trip should you find yourself in Helsinki!

The park celebrates Finland;s most famous composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). There is no admission charge to the park. The sculptured piece of 600 acid resistant pipes measures 8.5 x 10.5 x 6.5 meters. A sculptured head of Sebelius in the same material is also present. The sculpture by Eila Hiltunen was unveiled in 1967. It is of some irony that the pipes resemble organ pipes because Sebelius was noted for his symphonies 2 & 5, as well as, his violin concertos.

The park is located by the sea and provides a picturesque environment. Access is available from trams 2, 4 and 10. The Helsinki hop-on, hop off bus has a stop by the park. From Market Square in Helsinki the park is about three miles. The walk is interesting because it allows you to experience the different neighborhoods of Helsinki. A nice cafe called the Regatta is located on the waterfront.

It's more rewarding and culturally resonant to say you've been here; than to actually be there.


Maybe if you're into composers, composing, or a music aficionado then add a star.

Maybe if you're with friends or family (who you like and who like you) add another half star.

If you like to mill around parks plus a half star.

Hint: toilets are behind the display, down the hill and the left. They are in a large green dumpster-like building.

Neat monument in Helsinki, Finland. We visited with a busload of tourists. While we were there more busloads of other tourists arrived. It is quite pretty and unique. Wish I could tell you about the history of it, but I cannot. We disobeyed instructions and snuck away from our tour group to try and take some pics. Unfortunately, it was difficult to take pics without other tourists getting in the way.

Do I recommend stopping by here while in Helsinki? Yup, I sure do! Just try to get here while there are no busloads of tourists around. I am certain that you will get some great photos then. If you would like to learn more about this lovely monument, then you may research online.

Please don't tell my fifth grade music teacher Miss Nelson that I didn't know who Jean Sibelius was. She would have forced me to play the auto-harp as she played "The Swan of Tuonelo" on the violin (or maybe "The Flight of the Bumblebee") just to humiliate me for my ignorance in front of my classmates. OK, she wasn't that evil, but her tight bun made her look that way. Anyhow, I found out who Jean Sibelius was from Rick Steves who spotlighted this monument on his PBS TV series. I really hadn't planned on visiting it until I noticed on a map that our hotel was about six blocks away from it. Good enough, we're off. It snuck up on us in the middle of (no surprise) Sibelius Park where all of a sudden, we saw an army of Asian tourists.

They were carrying on all around this massive, 24-ton abstract art structure of 600 hollow steel pipes welded together as if it was a cloud suspended in the air (photo: http://bit.ly/294vLpk). As the tourists begrudgingly went back to their bus, Jamie W. and I had the monument to ourselves for roughly five minutes at which point another army of Asian tourists swarmed the area. That still gave us enough time to pose next to Sibelius' visage which was located on a rocky ledge with waves of steel behind it (photo: http://bit.ly/28ZuH5R). Designed by Finnish artist Eila Hiltunen and unveiled in 1967, a decade after the native son composer's death, it looked like organ pipes even though he wrote little for the organ. No matter, just hurry up and take your photo and avoid the next stampede.

Cool monument. Definitely a place to see and enjoy. It's clearly a masterpiece to enjoy and really understand in all angles. The silver organs poles shows that this was clearly a musician...even if you had no idea who Sibelius was before hand. I would recommend you take a view shots underneath the silver poles...it really is a strange and yet amazing new perspective on the sky. Loved it.

I was about to give this place up since it seem not so close on the map. but it turned out it was really closed to where we were. so even my partner and I just few hours left before we go to head to the airport, we decided to have a walk this place. Sibelius Monument is located at the Sibelius Park. The park itself is really nice place to have a walk or jogging, There were quite some locals around it, during we visited. From here we could easy see the see.
it was really relaxing and calm. We were quite lucky, when we visited this place,there wasn't many people. We could just enjoy the place.

The Sibelius Monument is located right on the big entrance. it wasn't so difficult to find. I like how it look. quite unique as a monument, I walked under it and had a look. It was quite nice view, the blue sky just made it very photogenic, I made some really great pictures. The monument is dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Next to the monument, there is another small sculpture of Jean Sibelius. If you are a fan, don't miss the place.

An aural sculpture.

This monument to Finland's most revered composer, Jean Sibelius, is a photo stop on many tours of city. As a fan of sculpture, I actually thought it was interesting and rather unique. Personally, I thought the best perspective was walking under the structure and looking up through the pipes. In a weird way, it reminded me of the bean sculpture in Chicago.

When you visit any of the Baltic countries, you will hear about the centuries long push-and-pull between Germanic and Russian occupations with their accompanying cultural influences and each country's efforts to retain their own independent spirit and culture. Sibelius is notable in Finland for his efforts to keep ethnic consciousness alive and he is the composer of one of the most beloved national songs, a symphonic poem called "Finlandia."

Many of his compositions were subversive pieces that had to be rearranged and performed under alternate names for many years since it was illegal to perform them during the Russian period. And as a random pop culture note, Finnish director Renny Harlin featured "Finlandia" in the score of Die Hard 2: Die Harder.

The focal point is 600 hollow steel pipes welded together in a wave like pattern. To me, it looks like the physical representation of sound waves. And then an effigy of a rather stern looking Sibelus with his head surrounded by a waves looks on from a rock wall. While not all visitors may grasp the meaning of the sculpture (it's abstract art after all), I think many of us can agree it is always good to take a moment and reflect on the work of those who had a challenging path and still produced great and lasting art for their people.

To be honest, there is nothing to see really. I came walking from the Rock Church (which was a bit of a long walk by the way), and even though it was nice you can find prettier views around Helsinki.

Basically, the place is far away and this monument has nothing amazing about it. A bunch of pipes in metal and crazy shapes.
If you like art, can be interesting but nothing unmissable.