Street galleries of Helsinki
Electricity distribution cabinets are junctions of the electricity network and necessary in the management of electricity distribution. In Helsinki, there are 7,000 electricity distribution cabinets and 1,300 outdoor lighting cabinets.
The electricity distribution cabinets are designed to manage electricity distribution in a safe and undisturbed way. The voltage inside the cabinets is 400 V. The purpose of the cover of the cabinet is to protect people from the voltage and the equipment inside the cabinet from alien objects, dirt, dust and water.
Together with its partners, Helsingin Energia has developed new ideas for the shape and materials of the distribution cabinets. The objective was to achieve feasible models for new kinds of electricity distribution cabinets for the urban environment.
As a result, a new place for displaying art was discovered. On the surfaces of the cabinets, there have been exhibitions of photographs taken by schoolchildren with the subject of the surrounding nature in the Déjà vu project and paintings of the streetscapes. The cabinets have also displayed the works of graphic artists and photographers alike.
Earlier projects have included street galleries in Eerikinkatu, Museokatu and Fleminginkatu in 2007. In the same year, art by young people was also displayed on the distribution cabinets in the Kamppi area. In 2006, Museokatu and Eerikinkatu displayed an exhibition entitled Impermanence.
Street galleries 2008 -Health (pdf)
Eerikinkatu street gallery 2007 (pdf)
Museokatu street gallery 2007 (pdf)
Fleminginkatu street gallery 2007 (pdf)