Artist to Pay After Saikan Sculpture Vandalised

Tülay Schakir's wooden sculpture Rakastaa ei rakasta, installed in Saikanpuisto in June and still awaiting final touches, was found damaged late last week, YLE reports.

Observers discovered a broken flower stem and a split section in an adjacent wooden piece, prompting Lempäälä municipality to file a criminal report. Cultural manager Kiti Mäkinen called the incident unfortunate but said the harm was relatively small. The damage appears limited.

Schakir says the damaged parts are being repaired at a workshop and that she will cover the costs from her own funds. Repairs are already underway.

The municipality selected the Saikan site to make the interactive sculpture accessible to families using the nearby playground and outdoor gym. Officials plan to keep the piece in place after repairs, and the artist hopes local residents will adopt it as a neighbourhood landmark rather than treat it as something to be broken.