A Sculptor Without an Audience
Veijo Rönkkönen lived quietly in the woods of Parikkala, Finland, working at a paper mill for 41 years and avoiding social contact. But in secret, on his rural property near the Russian border, he was building a concrete world—one he worked on for five decades.
Cast in Concrete
Using his first paycheck to buy apple trees and cement, Rönkkönen created over 550 sculptures. Nearly all depict human figures: dancers, children, nuns, and yogis. Many were based on his own image, especially the group of 255 yoga poses, inspired by a practice he adopted in the 1960s.
Watching from the Woods
Some statues have real human teeth. Others sprout flowers or emit strange sounds from hidden speakers. Many appear mid-motion—stretching, pleading, meditating, or watching. Though he rarely traveled, Rönkkönen used books to study cultures and rituals, which he recreated in cement.
A Quiet Invitation
Though reclusive, he allowed visitors to walk among the statues and answered questions when asked. Today, his sculpture garden still stands, attracting thousands each year to wander through the dense woods, surrounded by the hundreds of silent figures he left behind.
In a forest in Finland, near the Russian border, Veijo Rönkkönen built a world in secret.
A paper mill worker by day and recluse by nature, he spent 50 years covering his farm with over 550 concrete sculptures—each one a silent figure shaped by his hand…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/FJAiLA0oyX
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) April 22, 2025