The annual Hollola Holosuu Award statue is a work designed by local artist Juhani Jäämaa. The story of the statue's birth began when the municipality of Hollola began considering a distinctive recognition for the annual Hollola Holosuu Award in 2018.
The idea began to develop after Jäämaa visited the Serlachius Museum in Mäntä. The idea that emerged during the trip was first refined into a miniature model and later into a finished work of art. Jäämaa made a miniature version of the statue for the municipality, which was accepted as the official symbol of the award. The first Hollola Holosuu award statue was presented to actor Ville Haapasalo, who is originally from Hollola.
The statue consists of natural stone, a steel arm and a wooden base. The production of the work required a lot of planning and precise craftsmanship. Although the first stone was already ready, working with natural stone always has its own challenges. A stone carver can never fully know how the stone will behave when working, as surprises may be revealed from within or the material may deteriorate unexpectedly.
All the stones used in the Holosuu statues come from Hälvälä in Hollola. However, finding the right stone was not always easy. According to Jäämaa, finding the right type of natural stone, with a shape that suited the purpose, proved to be surprisingly laborious, but at the same time an important part of the creation process of the work.
The characteristic mouth of the work is shaped with a diamond wheel. Alongside the stone, the material used is stainless, blued steel. The texts on the steel parts have been created by sandblasting so that after removing the loose letters, the letters remain visible in shiny blue.
Juhani Jäämaa is from Vihatu, Hollola, and has been actively involved in the activities of the Hollola Art Association since the early 1980s. His long career in local art is reflected in his strong commitment to the culture and homeland of Hollola. Over the years, Jäämaa has served as the chairman of the art association, and is currently responsible for the association's treasurer.
The Holosuu statue in Hollola is a great example of how local natural material, a strong local identity and the artist's creativity can come together to create a meaningful work of art. The statue is not only an award, but also a tribute to the nature, culture and people of Hollola. It brings local stone into the art and tells the story of Hollola in its own expressive way.
The next Hollola Holosuu will be announced at Hollola Days on August 22, 2026 at around 7:30 PM. Welcome to the event to experience local culture and get excited about the 2026 Holosuu!
Check out what Hollola Day has to offer here!
More information about the event:
Culture producer
Hanna Kaitila
0405574402
hanna.kaitila@hollola.fi
