As the Bird Flies by Armi Teva (b. 1992) decorates the Otaranta stop in Otaniemi. The stop is located near the Kivimies daycare centre, where the same artist completed a nature-themed group of interior works in 2018. Designed especially for children, As the Bird Flies is thematically linked to its companion piece at the daycare centre. 

Armi Teva graduated from Aalto University and she is currently engaged in the fields of public art, illustration and ceramics. The content of As the Bird Flies celebrates two things that are important to Espoo: nature and the sea. The piece features numerous illustrations of plants, animals and maritime motifs composed as a collage of varied materials, such as pastels, cardboard cut-outs and digital vector illustrations. 

Sheltered by Rhododendrons by Kati Immonen (b. 1971) is a mural located at the Laajalahti stop. The rhododendron bushes framing the composition are linked to the Anja Pankasalo Rhododendron Park in the woodlands next to the stop. Pankasalo was a well-known public figure from the suburb of Laajalahti who exerted a long-standing influence in local politics.

Scenes illustrating the history of Laajalahti are framed inside and alongside the rhododendrons in the mural. The images are based on local residents’ memories and experiences and the artist’s research into the 70th anniversary publication of the Laajalahti society. When the mural was being designed, a residents’ meeting was convened at EMMA where Immonen described her plans and invited residents to share their reminiscences. The mural portrays scenes such as local picknickers seated on the leaves of the rhododendrons alongside famous local animals peeking from the shade of the bushes.

My Sweet Horsey! by Jenni Tieaho decorates the fencing of the Vermo racetrack between the Perkkaa and Vermo stops. The piece consists of nine aluminium composite plates presenting photographs of the artist’s horse-themed sculptures from the past two decades. Tieaho is an artist who draws inspiration from nature, especially Finnish forests, and she uses organic materials such as woolly willow, birch bark and various plant parts in her sculptures. The horse-themed photographs were adapted and integrated into the setting as a collaboration effort between Tieaho and light artist Pekka Järvilehto. The artist was selected for this commission by representatives of EMMA, Vermo Arena and the City of Espoo.

Tieaho wanted a title that would evoke a sense of familiarity. My Sweet Horsey! (Hummani hei in Finnish) refers to the well-known 1953 song Juokse sinä humma performed by Tapio Rautavaara. The song is Rautavaara’s adapted version of a folk tune.

Sea of Flags is a community piece originally created for Leppävaara in 2003 by the Dutch artist Germa Huijbers (b. 1967). It consists of a group of flagpoles and a collection of fluttering flags designed by the artist and various local residents over the years. The work has recently been refreshed and relocated to the end of Alberga Esplanade in conjunction with the light rail line project. 

The concept of Sea of Flags is based on communality and change. Its visual identity is intended to evolve in step with changing times through the addition of new flags designed by various local groups such as schools, cultural societies and residents’ associations. The flags were last renewed in 2018 when textile artist Greta Muuri held a series of workshops with the residents of the Leppävaara senior centre, who designed new flags around the themes of summer memories, love, joy and happiness.