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The Seer

The Seer is an environmental work of art situated in Manamansalo's Peuranpyyntikylä.

The Story

Näkijä, “The Seer” is inspired by the secret forces hidden in nature, as described in the Manamansalo origin stories. A stone rises from the ground, like an eye, to observe the world and people’s activities.

The work uses Europe’s oldest stone, gneiss, which has seen the world go by for a long time. ”Seer” also refers to the word “knower” – nature knows best what is good for it.

The work blends into the surrounding nature: it seems as if it has always been here. Nature is shaping it further and disguising it more and more in its environment.

The Artist

The work was created by artist Antti Ylönen. Ylönen has a great respect for nature and its phenomena. He is fascinated by the invisible forces in nature and stories about the environment that people have told each other over the centuries and passed on to new generations. These themes are strongly featured in his work. He has created several public works in Finland and abroad. Hidden Power, a sister work to Jälki created for TICKON's Environmental Art Park in Denmark in 2021, explores the same theme.

The Builders

The Manamansalo ry association, Tmi Timo Tervonen, Manamansalon Portti, and the municipality of Vaala took part in the construction of the work.

The Journey of Discovery in Art

The seven works of art in the Journey of Discovery in Art project highlight the natural and cultural heritage of the landscapes in the Rokua Geopark area, recognised as being of national importance, through environmental art. The works are inspired by three main themes: geological heritage, tar, and legends. The works have been funded by the Council of Oulu Region (AKKE funding) and the founders of Rokua Geopark (the municipalities of Muhos, Utajärvi and Vaala, the Rokuan Terveys- ja Kuntouttamissäätiö foundation, and Metsähallitus) and commissioned by Humanpolis.