Light Art Installations Created in Senior Centres for Lux Helsinki
This year, Lux Helsinki will expand to include almost all senior centres and service homes in Helsinki. Explore the lightworks on 6–11 January 2026 around Helsinki.
There are a huge sheet and an assortment of paints on the table. Myllypuro Senior Centre’s festive hall is filled with cheerful chatter. Suddenly the whole room bursts into song. Culture Instructor Johanna Raaste knows what is going on.
“We are making light art in workshops for the Lux Helsinki light art festival. We thought about ways to approach the festival’s theme Stop time!. We ended up focusing on moments where we wish that time would stop. Today we will create a large collaborative painting on fabric and make lanterns from smaller paintings on the same theme,” Johanna says.
Artworks have been crafted throughout the autumn in collaboration with social services students from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and preschoolers from the nearby daycare centre, Neulanen. An active team of volunteers has also been involved in the work. Amidst the building, the participants have paused to reflect on important memories.
“We have heard the stories of both children and our residents. It has been wonderful to share.”
Senior centres and service homes lighting up the city
The idea for the project originally came from Culture Instructor Henna Karhunen, who has held an annual light event inspired by Lux Helsinki at Madetoja Service Home.
The Helsinki Events Foundation, in charge of Lux Helsinki, was excited by what they saw, and last year Kannelmäki Service Home, Madetoja Service Home and Myllypuro Senior Centre were part of Lux’s side programme for the first time. This year, most of the City of Helsinki’s senior centres and service homes have contributed their own artwork to the event.
“Both the Events Foundation and we, the creators, felt that the collaboration should definitely continue. We wanted all senior centres and service homes to have the opportunity to participate this year if they wanted to – not only as visitors, but also as creators,” says Johanna.
Light and joy for passers-by
From Epiphany onwards, passers-by will be able to enjoy the important moments of seniors through light art. Johanna hopes that the works will encourage people to engage with art.
“Lux is a wonderful way to brighten up this city. We are helping to bring some light, and subsequently joy, to this dark time. I hope the artworks will give passers-by a wow moment, showing how people of different ages can create things together and showcase them.”
The light art of the senior centres will be on display during Lux Helsinki from 6 to 11 January 2026 at 17.00–22.00, unless otherwise indicated.
Kamppi Service Centre, Salomonkatu 21 B
The “Ajan virta – Stop Time!” installation, created with the second-year students of Konepaja Upper Secondary School, can be seen in the service centre’s windows between 8.00 and 22.00.
Kannelmäki Service Home at Urkupillintie 4 & Daycare Centre Soittaja at Soittajantie 10
The light artwork created with the children of Soittaja Daycare Centre can be seen in the service home’s and daycare centre’s exterior windows from 7 January onwards between 17.00 and 22.00.
Kinapori Senior Centre at Kinaporinkatu 7–9
“Kadonnut aika” (“Lost time”), created with the preschoolers from Runo Daycare Centre, can be seen on the second-floor windows of the senior centre’s rounded corner all day, illuminated from 17.00 to 22.00.
Kivelä Senior Centre at Pohjoinen Hesperiankatu 27 and
The artwork created with the 5-year-olds from Vaahtera Daycare Centre can be seen round the clock starting 7 January. The work will be near the southern gate, under the canopy on the left.
Kivelä Senior Centre at Sibeliuksenkatu 14
The illuminated artwork created with the preschoolers from Kivelä Daycare Centre can be seen round the clock from 7 January onwards under the courtyard canopy. The entrance will be through the gate at the corner of Sibeliuksenkatu and Mechelininkatu.
Kontula Senior Centre at Kontukuja 5
The artwork “Hetki, johon haluaisin ajan pysähtyvän” (“The Moment I Wish Time Would Stop”), created with Sakara Daycare Centre, can be seen in the senior centre’s courtyard starting 7 January.
Koskela Senior Centre at Hospitaalinkulku 8, building N
“Koskelan Kuohu” (“Koskela cascade”), created with the preschoolers of Koskela Daycare Centre, will be illuminated in the service centre’s window round the clock.
Kustaankartano Senior Centre at Oltermannintie 32
The artwork created with schoolchildren from classes 2–4 G at Oulunkylä Primary School will be displayed along the Kustaankartano forest trail round the clock.
Laajasalo Service Home at Rudolfintie 17–19
The collaborative piece “Valosiepparit” (“Light Catchers”), created with the children of Nalle and Ilomäki Daycare Centres, can be seen round the clock starting 7 January. If you want, you can bring your own torch! Opening ceremony for everyone on 7 January at 15.00.
Madetoja Service Home at Madetojankuja 3
The artwork created with the children of Nuotti and Sinivuori Daycare Centres can be seen round the clock from 7 January onwards in the service home’s window on the Maasalonpolku side.
Munkkiniemi Service Centre, Laajalahdentie 30
The artwork created with the preschoolers from Munkkiniemi Montessori Playschool will be on display in the senior centre’s lobby windows. The artwork will be illuminated from 9.00 to 22.00.
Myllypuro Senior Centre at Myllymatkantie 4
The artwork created with the preschoolers from Neulanen Daycare Centre will be on display in the senior centre’s courtyard and windows from 9.00 onwards, illuminated from 17.00 to 20.00.
Puistola Service Home at Aksiisipolku 1 A
The “Valo maalausta” (“Painting light”) artwork can be seen in the glass corridor windows at the back of the building. During the building’s opening hours, it can be viewed in the gallery space.
Riistavuori Senior Centre at Isonnevantie 28
The piece created with 7th-grade students from Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu Upper Secondary School will be illuminated in the senior centre’s front courtyard round the clock, with an opening ceremony open to everyone on 7 January at 13.30.
Roihuvuori Senior Centre at Punahilkantie 16
The “Tähän hetkeen haluan pysähtyä” (“I Want to Pause in This Moment”) light installation, created with Konepaja Upper Secondary School students and class 3 M from Porolahti Comprehensive School, will be on display in the senior centre’s courtyard from 7 January onwards, with an open opening ceremony at 17.00.
Syystie Senior Centre at Takaniitynkuja 3
The collaborative window artwork created with Takatasku Daycare Centre can be seen from the senior centre’s courtyard.
Töölö Senior Centre at Töölönkatu 33/Ruusulankatu 6
The piece created with the international Pilke Daycare Centre will be displayed in the senior centre’s windows facing Töölönkatu and Ruusulankatu.
Vuorensyrjä Service Home at Vuorensyrjä 7 C
The “Salainen puutarha” (“Secret Garden”), created with the preschoolers from Kankarepuisto Daycare Centre, will be illuminated in the dining hall window throughout the event and in the courtyard garden from 7 January onwards at 17.00–22.00.
Image: Elli Pukkinen