This Side and That Side
Pekka Martti & Marko Häkkinen
- Location: Aura Bridge, River Aura
- Time: 3–6 December 2026, 4–10 pm
A river flows between us. Above us stretches the same sky.
The River Aura divides Turku into two sides, traditionally known in the local dialect as tois pual and täl pual – that side and this side. Pekka Martti and Marko Häkkinen’s light installation This Side and That Side shines beside Aura Bridge and draws inspiration from this traditional Turku way of viewing the city divided by the river and its history. The installation uses light to bring the bridge, water and riverbanks together into a visually striking whole that looks different depending on which side of the river it is viewed from.
Created especially for Path of Light 2026, the installation combines spectacular lighting elements with the historic Art Nouveau bridge and the water flowing beneath it. Although the river separates the two sides of the city, it also connects Turku’s residents. The installation invites visitors to explore how different perspectives can ultimately form part of the same whole. Perhaps human connection begins when we look beyond our own perspective? We may see the world from different angles, yet still be part of the same story.
This Side and That Side is a collaborative work by Pekka Martti and Marko Häkkinen. Pekka Martti is a Finnish light artist and lighting designer. His work has become familiar to a wider audience through projects including the spectacular lighting design for UMK 2025, Finland’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, and the lighting and technical design for the opening celebrations of Oulu2026, the European Capital of Culture.
Marko Häkkinen, artistic director of Path of Light 2026, is a Finnish sound, visual and light artist. His works bring together space, light and sound to create immersive experiences. Häkkinen is an internationally renowned multidisciplinary artist whose work combines sensitivity and power. His light installations have been showcased across Finland, including at the opening ceremony of Lahti’s year as European Green Capital, the Valoilmiö Light Art Festival in Hämeenlinna and the City of Light festival in Jyväskylä, as well as in the Pulse of the Earth installation in Punkaharju.