Paavo Kallio
Artist(s):Armas Mikola
Date:1969
Medium:oil on canvas
Dimensions:102.5 x 88.5 cm
Collection:Turun Yliopiston Varsinaissuomalainen Osakunta (TVO)
Paavo Kallio (1914–1992) made his career at the University of Turku: he earned his master’s degree in 1943, began working as a Research Associate in 1945, defended his doctoral dissertation in 1951, was appointed Docent of Plant Sciences in 1954, Assistant Professor in 1957, and Professor of Plant Physiology in 1963. Kallio gave up his professorship in 1979 but continued as Docent until 1984. During his career, he studied, for example, the unicellular Micrasterias alga. Kallio’s achievements include establishing the still active Kevo Subarctic Research Institute in Utsjoki in the 1950s.
Kallio’s portrait was unveiled at the 42nd anniversary of Turun Yliopiston Varsinaissuomalainen Osakunta (TVO, University of Turku’s Southwestern student nation) in 1969. True to his life’s work, Kallio is portrayed in nature, in Katariinanlaakso – one of his favourite sites in Turku. The portrait was painted by artist Armas Mikola (1901–1983) and transferred to Kevo on 10 March 1972. Known for his landscapes and portraits, many of which are in the University’s art collection, Mikola received the Pro Finlandia Medal in 1975 and the title of Professor in 1982, a year before his death.
Emma Vuolaslempi 2024
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