Olli Lindholm’s likeness statue was released on Friday, September 23.
Ulla Haglund’s home album
Chainsaw artist Ulla Haglund carved a statue of the late singer of the band Yö out of spruce wood Olli from Lindholm. The original idea for the statue came from admiring the night band and Lindholm Markus Myllymäkiwho suggested the implementation to Haglund.
Haglund tells Iltalehti how at first the idea of sculpting Lindholm’s statue seemed challenging.
– I knew that it is challenging to make a statue of a person that everyone knows.
In the end, however, Haglund found a suitable fir tree, on which he began to sketch the work. He had received pictures from Myllymäki.
– I’ve never met Olli in nature, but I’ve certainly listened to his music. That’s where it started. Piece by piece, with chainsaws of different sizes, remove wood where there is too much and glue pieces where there is not enough.
The statue, funded by the fundraiser, has attracted a lot of comments for and against. Some dismissed the sculpture as a complete failure, while others openly shared their emotion and respect for the singer’s memory.
– There was a lot of positive feedback at the unveiling event and from many others who have seen it in the wild, says Haglund.
The sculpture is wearing Lindholm’s trademark blue jeans and a blue collared shirt. Juha Veli Jokinen
However, online forums quickly began to seethe, when many wrote that the statue had failed. It was mocked to appear rather Tauski from Peltos or otherwise unrecognizable as Lindholm.
– I know that it has been criticized on some websites, as is typical in this age of social media, and I haven’t even read them all. However, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Haglund thinks that part of the harsh criticism stems from Lindholm’s cultural significance for Finns. Yö-yhtyte is one of Finland’s most famous bands, which has had loyal fans for decades.
– Olli was a big star in Finland. There is always a lot of discussion in connection with monuments and the people are usually divided.
Haglund reminds that the task of art is to arouse discussion and emotions. The artist makes his interpretation of the object, and it is not meant to be photographically accurate.
It was meaningful for Haglund himself to be able to realize the sculpture commissioned from him.
– Yes, it warms the heart when someone trusts their abilities so much that they give such a task. Accepting a challenge is also a good way to develop.
The wooden sculpture is located in Pomarku, Satakunta, where Lindholm is buried. The singer died suddenly of a ruptured aorta in February 2019. He was 54 years old when he died.