This installation was developed during a two-month residency at the Old Mine, a historic mining site and museum located in the small town of Outokumpu, eastern Finland. Inspired by the mining tunnel itself, the final exhibition was held within the tunnel—a space where boundaries between nature and the artificial, indoors and outdoors, past and present become blurred.

 

Upon entering, the texture of the rock walls, the depth and darkness of the tunnel, the echo of footsteps, and the traces of countless workers immediately engaged the senses. Over time, another presence emerged—the quiet, constant rhythm of water droplets falling from the ceiling and walls. These droplets, though small and barely visible, revealed themselves through sound, touch, and brief sparkles of light, forming a subtle yet undeniable presence.

 

This presence marked a seasonal transition—from winter to spring—appearing only in that specific time and place, ephemeral yet real.

 

The installation captures this presence through six aluminum units placed throughout the tunnel. Each unit responds to the natural rhythm of falling water, with each drop triggering ripple-like movements. The unpredictability of the droplets adds a layer of spontaneity to the work.

 

As viewers walk through the tunnel, they encounter shifting atmospheres—moments of quiet, echoes, and subtle changes in light and humidity. The sense of presence builds gradually, and the viewer eventually comes face to face with the work, as if the installation itself has emerged in response to their movement. This reciprocal relationship between space and body becomes central to the experience.

 

The main components are made from discarded aluminum printing plates, previously used at a local newspaper and salvaged with the support of the museum staff.

 

The work is titled Läsnäolo, a Finnish word meaning “a quiet but undeniable presence.” It reflects an attunement to nature and the surrounding environment, inviting viewers to perceive subtle, hidden forces and the quiet flow of time through seasonal change.