REVONTULIHEVOSEN VUOSI

(Year of the Aurora Horse, mural painting in Oulu, Finland, 2026

Commissioned by Oulu City as part of the Oulu Capital of culture 2026 arts programme, coordinated by Upeart.
The Aurora Horse is a monumental mural in central Oulu celebrating freedom, movement, vitality, independence, and positive change. The horse, traditionally associated with war and battle in art history, is reimagined here as a symbol of peace, hope, strength, and joy.

Inspired by the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse in 2026, and created in connection with Oulu’s year as European Capital of Culture, the Aurora Horse is a tribute to the city’s international character and vibrant cultural life. Crossing borders, seasons, and languages, the horse embodies the universal power of culture to connect people.

The work draws on the northern lights, a defining feature of Oulu’s northern landscape. The shifting colours and luminous movement of the Aurora Borealis are woven into the horse’s form.