About the artwork
The Black Snow light installation brings a shared snow guarantee to November by a game of snowflakes. The installation celebrates diversity and uniqueness through the symbolism of a snowflake. At Valve, the installation takes on a monumental form, with silhouettes and backlighting creating an impressive whole.
The installation consists of two parts. The first part will be unveiled at Cultural Centre Valve in connection with Lumo, and the second one will be displayed in an expanded and modified form at Franzén Park in Oulu during the opening festivities of Oulu’s year as European Capital of Culture 2026 on January 16–18, 2026.
About the artist
This communal light installation has been designed by Oulu-based sculptor Tiina Vehkaperä, who is expanding her work into environmental, performance, light, and community art. The production is characterised by a different way of looking at familiar things, understanding what it is to exist in the world, and observing the essence of found material.
The work is being realised in collaboration with Oulu’s schools, Valve Cultural Centre’s neighbourhood culture programme, and Lumo Light Festival.
Black Snow
Artist Tiina Vehkaperä
Cultural Centre Valve, Hallituskatu 7