In Helsinki, about a hundred electrical cabinets are legally painted each year. They are also regularly replaced, and at least a few painted cabinets have ended up in private homes.
There are more than 7 500 electricity cabinets from Helen electricity networks along the streets of Helsinki, of which about 700 are decorated with paintings or works of art.
One of the fun ones is located in Käpylä, a district that will turn 100 years old in 2020. To celebrate the centenary, the electrical cabinets in the area were painted with Kalevala-themed paintings. The theme was found in the street names: Pohjolankatu, Kullervontie, Vipusentie and Sampsantie are all named after the Kalevala.
Now some of the art cabinets in Käpylä have to be replaced, which annoys Koivisto.
– This project has brought color and life to the streets of the district. Many have followed the painters’ work with interest, and at the same time great discussions have arisen, says Koivisto.
A few weeks ago, a new electrical cabinet was brought to the corner of Koivisto’s home. When it turned out that the old cabinet with artworks had to be replaced, Koivisto got an idea. He asked the installers if he could have an electrical cabinet door decorated with artwork.
Only a few paintings have been saved
– Even when the painting project was being implemented, it was known that in a few years some of the cabinets would be replaced, says Paavola.
According to Paavola, art cabinets have been painted in Helsinki for about 20 years. Disused cabinet doors have ended up in the hands of private individuals in the past, but quite a few.
– Contractors usually keep works of art in the warehouse for a while, but over the years, you can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times that an artist or someone else would have gone there to save the door for themselves.
According to Paavola, there is no problem in the matter in itself: if you want the cabinet door for yourself, you can contact Helen and agree on the matter in more detail.
About a hundred cabinets are painted every year, and they are also constantly removed from use, mainly due to aging, damage, vandalism or wear and tear.
In principle, anyone can get a painting permit, as long as the matter is agreed with Helen in advance.
– There are certain conditions associated with this. A draft of the work has to be approved by Helen and, for example, the permanence of the work cannot be guaranteed, which is of course the nature of street art in general, says Paavola.
Toivo Koivisto doesn’t yet know what he will do with the electrical cabinet door decorated with Lemminkäinen’s mother or where he will hang the work. It is more important that the work is saved.