Muses (Torso)

Erected by the City of Turku and the V. A. Koskenniemi Society, Muses is a memorial to poet and literary scholar V. A. Koskenniemi (1885–1962). Also known as Torso, Terho Sakki’s (1930–1997) sculpture is a bronze copy of Merikosken muusat (1985), the artist’s memorial to Koskenniemi in Oulu. Unveiled on 25 April 1987, the sculpture depicts the Muses, the inspirational goddesses of the arts and sciences, in reference to Koskenniemi’s admiration for classical mythology.

Sakki is known for his public monuments, as well as a medallist. He studied at the Institute of Industrial Arts and the School of the Fine Arts Academy of Finland in the 1950s. He received the Pro Finlandia Medal in 1971 and the title of Professor in 1982. In the late 1950s, Sakki and his spouse Maija bought Humala, a studio built by artist Jalmari Ruokokoski in Hyvinkää in 1916.

Emma Vuolaslempi 2024