We spent two months at the iconic Old Mine, a historic mining site and museum located in the small town of Outokumpu, in eastern Finland. Our new work was inspired by the mining tunnel itself, and the final exhibition also took place inside the tunnel. The tunnel is a space where boundaries between nature and the artificial, indoors and outdoors, past and present become blurred.

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Upon entering, what first caught our senses was the texture of the rock walls, the depth and darkness of the tunnel, the echo of our footsteps, and the traces of the countless people who once worked there. But after spending time in the space, we began to notice another presence — the quiet, constant rhythm of water droplets falling from the ceiling and walls. These droplets were small, barely visible. Yet their sounds, their touch on the skin, and the brief sparkle as they caught the light gave them a subtle but undeniable presence in the space.

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It was a moment that filled us with awe at the quiet majesty of something subtle yet undeniably present in nature. This presence also became a sign of the seasonal transition—from winter to spring—appearing only in that specific time and place, ephemeral yet real. 

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Our installation captures this presence. Six aluminum units, placed throughout the tunnel, respond to the natural rhythm of the falling water. Each drop triggers movement—creating ripple-like motions—though no one can predict when or where the next drop will fall.

 

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

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The work is titled “Läsnäolo”, a Finnish word meaning a quiet but undeniable presence—an attunement to nature and what surrounds us. Through this installation, we explore how to perceive the subtle, hidden forces in a space, and how time flows quietly through the changing of the seasons.