Programme description

“Lönnrot Collected the Poems – and Forgot the Singers”

Finnish famous sculptor Alpo Sailo dedicated his life to immortalising the Kalevala runo singers. The Kalevala was very important to him, yet he felt that Lönnrot forgot to show what the singers actually looked like. Sailo sought to correct this omission — for, as he believed, without an image, the singers would be forgotten. Later, his life’s mission was continued by his wife, Nina Sailo, who was also a sculptor.

Juminkeko’s summer exhibition is a tribute both to the runosingers and to the life’s work of Alpo and Nina Sailo. The exhibition presents a central selection of their oeuvre, including sculptures and reliefs.

This exhibition is part of the official Oulu2026 programme.