Underground Art

1. ”Cycles” Matti Mikkilä, 2021 BioCity -1

The Cycles mural, which decorates the bike parking area in the BioCity garage, is the largest mural in the parking garages, measuring 24 meters in width and 4.2 meters at its highest point.

2. ”Secret Garden” Maikki Rantala, 2021 BioCity -1

The Secret Garden mural lining the parking facility's entrance has been curated with species from the Red List of Finnish Species, which measures endangerment.

3. ”BioCity” Heta Kasurinen, 2021 BioCity -1

In the mural found in the BioCity parking garage, the BioCity building is depicted with cheerful colors and stylized lines.

4. ”Concrete jungle” Esbe_1, 2021 BioCity -1

The mural brings color to the gray space and plays with the idea of a concrete jungle. The jungle theme continues from the wall to the floor and nearby columns.

5. ”Chaos” Sofia Zida, 2021 BioCity -1

Sofia Zida's vibrant and colorful art draws from the musician and visual artist's emotions and Mexican heritage. In autumn 2021, the Joki Visitor Centre hosted an art exhibition by Andy McCoy and Sofia Zida, which was visited by over a thousand people in two weeks.

6. ”Tree of Life” Andy McCoy, 2021 BioCity -1

The column painted by Andy McCoy depicts the life of a rock star and the journey from a zebra to a lion. In autumn 2021, the Joki Visitor Centre hosted an art exhibition by Andy McCoy and Sofia Zida, which was visited by over a thousand people in two weeks.

7. ”Red flowers” Ansu Airas, 2021 BioCity -1

Turku-based artist Ansu Airas' first mural is a tribute to all who carry their burdens. The pain addressed by the work is visible as a red stripe over the female figure's eyes.

8. ”Big momma (part 1)” Cavcav, 2021 BioCity -1

The two-part work Big Momma depicts a large mother tree that nurtures and warms sleeping animals. Directly below the mother tree, on the BioCity -2 floor, is the second part of the work, which represents the tree's roots.

9. ”Swing” Tarja Niinistö & Tiina Lahikainen, 2021 BioCity -1

A girl swinging from a pipe running along the wall of the ramp curiously observes visitors in the garage.

10. ”Flying high” Tommi Ketonen, 2021 BioCity -1

10. "Flying high" Tommi Ketonen, 2021 BioCity -1

11. ”Lion and Eagle” Henry Toivari, 2021 BioCity -1

In nature photographer Henry Toivari's photographs, a lion and an eagle watch the passerby closely with their gaze.

12. ”On the Perch” Samuli Alonen, 2021 BioCity -1

Sculptor Samuli Alonen's sympathetic Citybird birds have found their way to the Turku parking garage, where they waddle on their perch, bringing a smile to the passerby's lips.

13. ”Underground garden” Jukka Hakanen, 2021 BioCity -2

The Underground Garden, painted by Turku street artist Jukka Hakanen, creates a bright and cheering oasis on the parking garage wall.

14. ”Birds and Hares” Johanna Pisto, 2021 BioCity -2

The series of works, implemented as murals and vinyl graphics, freshens up the environment, bringing expression and a stylish impression to the area in front of the elevators on the BioCity -2 floor.

15. ”Forest Dwellers” Miila Westin, 2021 BioCity -2

A series of mural images consisting of seven circles and animals creates peepholes into a colorful fantasy world.

16. ”Moose in the Parking Lot” Mirja Ilkka, 2021 BioCity -2

Like nature, the sketchily painted moose family adapts to the prevailing conditions, blending into the parking garage wall like a cave painting.

17. ”Aliens” Heidi Wirgentius, 2021 BioCity -2

MUUkalaiset (Aliens/Cows) is a life-sized, realistically painted herd of gently curious cows.

18. ”Conductor / Biotechnological Symphony / Through the Researcher's Eyes” Taneli Stenberg, 2021 BioCity -2

The conductor of the work directs a biotechnological symphony surrounded by a colorful kaleidoscope of microscopic events and cross-sections.

19. ”Limbo” Jani Rättyä, 2021 BioCity -2

The Limbo mural utilizes the brick wall's surface structure and masonry pattern, and creates a continuum for the warning stripes on the parking garage columns.

20. ”Ruissalo” Suvi-Tuuli Höglund, 2021 BioCity -2

The Ruissalo mural is a fairytale world, a utopia, and a tribute to a beloved summer spot, where life is always seen through a pink filter.

21. ”Garagerama21” Antti Hakkarainen, 2021 BioCity -2

Garagerama depicts the mental landscape of a customer driving in the parking garage, and one can immerse oneself in its details and colors for a long time. The work is full of mystery, surprises, colors, and dimensions.

22. ”Underground lab” Cavcav, 2021 BioCity -2

A miraculous project underway in the basement laboratory gets completely out of hand, something explodes, and the wall breaks. Through the hole in the broken wall, one can now peek into the secret laboratory from the parking garage.

23. ”Osmo RawDeal” Osmo, 2021 BioCity -2

The works of Turku-based graffiti artist Osmo often feature mushrooms, plants, sneakers, trains, subways, spray paint cans, Mickey Mouses, and hip-hop themed objects. Osmo's works pay homage to the symbolism of old-school graffiti, albeit with a modern twist.

24. ”Corners and Nooks” Jukka Hakanen, 2021 BioCity -2

The geometric shapes in Jukka Hakanen's abstract mural are derived from the floor plans of the BioCity and DataCity parking garages.

25. ”Circus” Eeva Forsström, 2021 BioCity -2

The colourful Circus mural is based on the artist’s oil painting of the same name. The Circus proposal won the public vote held among the sketches submitted for the urban revitalisation project.

26. “Astronaut and the Lamp” Joona Huotari & Juha Welling, 2021 BioCity -2

The astronaut in the painting has wandered into a strange place: they were supposed to be admiring their country's flag, but instead, they ended up on a beach under a street lamp. The idea behind the work is the feeling of smallness, which connects the astronaut in space to anyone else in a strange place.

27. “Sci-fi” Jesse Pasanen, 2021 BioCity -2

The mural invites the viewer to invent a story for the landscape: where are we, what has happened and what will happen next. At the same time, the viewer gets to examine their own present moment, as we are already living in a rather sci-fi world.

28. “Whisper of the Innermost” Mirja Vihersalo, 2021 BioCity -2

The poem in the work reminds us of the importance of pausing and listening to oneself. Everyday life, haste, world events, the longing for others' approval or the fear of rejection easily cover up our own inner voice and authenticity, even though our inner self is exactly what is essential in us.

29. “Monday” Kirsi Nyqvist, 2021 BioCity -2

Everyone knows the feeling of just not wanting to do it. The Monday Horse brings empathy to everyone who gets out of their car feeling uninspired.

30. “Herbarium of the Turku Region” Pinja Meretoja, 2021 BioCity -2

The work is inspired by a classic herbarium, where plants have been collected, dried and named. This herbarium contains sixteen plants found in the Turku region.

31. “Ola” Carola Koskinen & Risto Pajunoja, 2021 BioCity -2

In the Kustom Kulture-style painting, a summery Olavi Virta sings and plays the guitar, perhaps evoking musical memories in the viewer.

32. “Big momma (part 2)” Cavcav, 2021 BioCity -2

The two-part work Big Momma depicts a large mother tree that nurtures and warms sleeping animals. The first part of the work is located on floor -1 of BioCity, directly above the mother tree's roots.

33. “Fugu, baby. Fugu.” Thijs Verbrugghe, 2021 BioCity -2

The work depicts a fugu, or pufferfish, swimming in an underwater parking garage, blowing air bubbles into the water that turn into hearts.

34. “Pike is Art” Kirsi Nyqvist, 2021 BioCity -2

The world would be a better place if art were closer to people and everyday life. The zander swimming on the wall aims to bring joy, warmth and atmosphere to people's daily lives.

35. “Fair Wind” Elisa Hämärä, 2021 BioCity -2

The sense of movement in the work naturally guides one towards the exit, acting as a playful element that helps space users perceive the area.

36. “Dove at Sea” Toivo Järvi, 2021 BioCity -2

The light and airy mural makes use of basic natural elements: it combines the power of a wave with the delicacy of a dove. The painting brings the peace of nature into the middle of everyday life.

37. “Step” Vesa Loikas, 2021 BioCity -2

The photographic work Askel (Step) features dancer Leyya Mona Tawil and was taken in the Gadolinia building of Åbo Akademi.

38. “Kitty” Frida di Iorio & Silvia di Iorio, 2021 BioCity -2

Based on a child's drawing and depicting encouraging kitties, the painting is an ode to a child's creativity—the creativity in all of us.

39. “Splash!” Mari Sonntag, 2021 BioCity -2

The character in the Splash! work is startled when the taps at the parking garage's water point start splashing water.

40. “Swimparking” Phaser Crane Collective, 2021 DataCity

The central focus of the work is human-like figures running into the sea. It consists of graphically designed abstract shapes that, when viewed from a distance, unfold as a broad, summery whole.

41. “Blueberry Forest” Sandy Bee, 2021 DataCity

Everyone enjoys being in the blueberry forest! The forest symbolises peace and well-being. Blueberries remind us of our childhood, blueberry milk, blue mouths and fingers.

42. “Escape Route” Laura H., 2021 DataCity

The misty forest landscape surrounding the stairwell and elevators of DataCity's A-staircase offers an escape to nature in the middle of the concrete jungle.

43. “Spring Trees” Mari Sonntag, 2021 DataCity

The lines of the parking spaces continue onto the wall, forming a row of spring birch trees that makes it clearer to park the car in the right spot.

44. “Flora & Fauna” Marileea Järnefelt, 2021 DataCity

In the Flora & Fauna diptych, Flora's headdress is adorned with numerous colourful flowers, and Fauna is decorated with brightly coloured birds and butterflies.

45. “Guys” Teemu Keisteri, 2021 DataCity

The quirky character figures by multi-talented artist Teemu Keisteri return to their roots in the DataCity parking garage mural.

46. “Human Behind the DigiDigi” Venla Huhtinen, 2021 DataCity

The work is inspired by a computer circuit board, the design language of which the background pattern reflects. The work highlights the human role as the creator of technology and reminds viewers that behind all technology and AI is a real, living, breathing person.

47. “Colorful Houses” Mental Boom, 2021 DataCity

A small town spreads across the wall of the parking garage, bringing joy and colour to the environment. The work invites the viewer to take a closer look at its details.

48. “Turkutarget 2021” Sabrina Suominen, 2021 DataCity

A familiar river landscape and an optimistic polar circle penguin bring life to the middle of the parking garage.

49. “Aura River” Ruusa, 2021 DataCity

The Aura River and Turku belong together. The river flows at seven metres per second over a 70-kilometre distance from Aura towards Turku city centre. The work is a small sample of storytelling from history, from this side and that side of the river.

50. “Break” Denisse Islas, 2021 DataCity

The work features a person enjoying a break; time that can be used for thinking. Creative people who use a lot of energy in their work also need rest—small, quiet moments that make creativity flourish.

51. “Wings” Samuli Metsänranta, 2021 DataCity

The stairwell door connects to the fictional part of the painting, and the wings symbolise the exit from the parking area. The part of the painting that spreads behind the corner adds dimension to the work as a whole, and the truck blends into the wall surface.

52. “Qui comedunt pollutio (Those who eat pollution)” Balance & Mild, 2021 DataCity

Road salt, road dust and fine particles from exhaust fumes are carried into the parking garage by cars. The sculpture, made of iron and bronze plates, will patinate over time and gain a richer life the more pollutants are carried onto its surface.

53. “Door no. 7” Eija Ylinen-Virtanen, 2021 DataCity

Door no. 7 brings a breath of Southern Europe and makes you wonder what is behind it. Why is the cat sitting and waiting on the step, trying to get in? What are the residents of the property like, and is anyone home?

54. “My life” Juha Lahtinen, 2021 DataCity

The My life mural is the result of an ongoing, years-long exploration of two different techniques and atmospheres. Blending figurative and abstract painting seamlessly, examining the tools used in both techniques, and finding new ways to use them play an important role in the artist's work.

55. “Mosaic Garden” Tuuli Huovila, 2021 DataCity

The Mosaic Garden brings a delightful touch to the parking garage's appearance with its fresh colors, theme, and technique.

56. ”DataCity” Heta Kasurinen, 2021 DataCity

In the wall painting located in the DataCity parking garage, DataCity is depicted using cheerful colors and stylized lines.

57. ”African shadows / Frozen fleurs / Dancing fleurs” EMC Salminen, 2021 DataCity

The three paintings in the collection were created during an artist residency trip in Africa, and their color palette reflects the equatorial tropical environment.

58. ”Colt21 – Space City Blocks”, Salim Sheikh, 2025 DataCity

The space-themed work by Turku-based graffiti artist Salim Sheikh draws from the street art tradition and brings color to the parking garage.

59. ”Untitled” Aleksi Liimatainen & Mikko Paakkonen, 2016 BioCity

Aleksi Liimatainen (b. 1988, Turku) and Mikko Paakkonen (b. 1990, Riihimäki) are graduates of the Turku Arts Academy, whose graphic works, paintings, and installations are inspired by the ruggedness of urban life.

60. ”We Surrender to the Spirit of the Night” Aleksi Liimatainen & Mikko Paakkonen, 2016 BioCity