Sibelius Monument

Passio Musicae

The monumental statue Passio Musicae, which symbolises the life work of master composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), is depicted in the 0.60 euro special stamp to be issued on 3 May 2002. The stamp is issued in the Pohjola-Norden stamp series of the Nordic postal administrations, the theme of which this year is contemporary environmental art. The stamp depicting the famous sculpture created by sculptor, Professor Eila Hiltunen (1922), was designed by Päivi Vainionpää. The stamp is based on a photograph by Otso Pietinen.

Sibelius Monument completed in 1967

The Sibelius Monument, situated in Töölö, Helsinki was completed in 1967 causing unparalleled hue and cry. The result of the open competition arranged for the purpose caused such a heated discussion that the sponsor decided to arrange a second round. All artists whose works had been awarded and paid were invited. The work by Eila Hiltunen, a large structure of steel pipes welded together and standing on three support legs, won the second competition. There had been doubts, whether this abstract statue would be suitable as a memorial of the great man. The sculptor had added a separate relief-like portrait of the master compose to the final version.

Eila Hiltunen

For Eila Hiltunen the Sibelius Monument became her great artistic breakthrough. It is considered as one of the most remarkable memorials in Finland, and its position in Finnish sculpture art is nearly iconic.
The comprehensive production by Eila Hiltunen also includes many other public works, for instance Under the Water (1960) in Tampere, A la Russe (1965) in the Turku City Theatre and Palm Grove (1975) in Teheran. Eila Hiltunen has more works abroad than any other Finnish sculptor. There is a miniature of the Sibelius Monument in the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, and in Montreal and New York there are full-scale partial designs of the monument.
Date of stamp issue: April/May 2002