Markku “Pig” Puustinen

Surrounded by water, 2025
environmental artwork in a rainwater well

Kallavesi has always been a part of Kuopio and its identity. For hundreds of years, the lake has served as a connecting factor between Kuopio and the rest of the world. People and goods have travelled along Kallavesi, but so have ideas and thoughts, and in both directions. Being from Kuopio and Savonia is state of being that is usually absorbed from mother’s milk, or at the latest when the older generation passes on their cultural heritage to the younger generation. The content of the work refers to how cultural heritage is passed on from adults to children. The artwork takes the viewer by surprise. Thus, in this recording as well, the responsibility for understanding the work is transferred to the listener.

Environmental artist Markku “Pig” Puustinen has been an entrepreneur in the construction industry for most of his adult life. Alongside his work, he has created hundreds of environmental artworks, the first of which were placed in Nilsiä in 1975. Since then, Puustinen has created works in various parts of Finland, including Tampere, Jyväskylä, and Lahti. After moving to Helsinki in 1985, Puustinen has created at least 150 artworks for the capital region and continues to make more. The oldest sound art still in use was completed in 2000. It is located in a storm water inlet in Torkkelinmäki, Helsinki, from where you can hear Finnair's flight announcement to Amsterdam. The title of the work is “Mutta minä lähden” ("But I'm Leaving”). His most popular work has proven to be the eight-watt miniature power plant built in the old architectural style in 2019 in Töölönlahti. It has been viewed over a million times. The power plant actually works and can be used to charge for example a cell phone via an ISB socket on a control panel installed on a metal railing.

Puustinen received an honourable mention in connection with the City of Helsinki's Cultural Act 2022 selection. Puustinen has produced all of his works on a self-publishing basis.