30.5.2012

The Much-Loved Eiders Will Return to River Aura Accompanied By a Symphony

The popular eiders created by artist Reima Nurmikko for Turku European Capital of Culture 2011 are returning to River Aura. The birds will be on show in the river every summer for the next ten years.

The eiders will be launched on Friday 1 June. At 5 pm on the same day, boat horns, church bells and sirens along the river will recreate the River Aura Symphony which signalled the opening of the Capital of Culture Year in 2011. The seven eiders will be placed in the same positions as before, between the Aurasilta and Tuomiokirkkosilta bridges.

Lions Club Ilpoinen will be in charge of the birds for the next ten years, providing maintenance and winter storage for the popular public artwork.  The return of the eiders is funded by the Turku 2011 Foundation and a number of other bodies.

The giant eiders and the dancers on their backs comment the state of the Baltic Sea. Photo: Arto Takala

Eiders popular with the audience in 2011

Kaarina-based artist Reima Nurmikko created seven giant sculpted eiders for the Flux Aura 2011 public art project as part of the European Capital of Culture programme.  The birds were in River Aura from June until October 2011. In surveys conducted after the Capital of Culture Year, they were highlighted as one of the most memorable and best-loved works.

The flock of eiders was part of the Balancing cross-disciplinary artwork which explored the interaction between humans and the fragile environment. The summer season included ten performances of a choreography by Satu Tuittila, which featured five dancers performing on the backs of the birds.

River Aura Symphony to Open the Jokisatama Summer Programme  

The River Aura Symphony, which was premiered in the opening ceremony of the Capital of Culture Year on 15 January 2011, will be returning on the same day as the eiders. Designed and composed by sound artist Simo Alitalo, the symphony is now being performed for the third time to mark the launch of the Jokisatama river events season.  

The symphony is an experimental sound work for church bells, boat horns and sirens. The duration of the performance is approximately 30 minutes, and it can be heard on the banks of River Aura downriver from the Martinsilta bridge

The Jokisatama opening ceremony launches a series of summer events which will take place in the estuary 1–10 June. The events are organised by the City of Turku, the Port of Turku, and Forum Marinum.  

Video: Flux Aura - Balancing

River Aura sympony