The mural brings art and culture to the home courtyards in Toppilansalmi, Oulu.

In the autumn of 2025, everyday life at our housing company in Toppilansalmi, Oulu, gained new colors when a mural was completed on the wall of the carport at Satamatie 37. The work was created by the renowned Japanese visual artist Momo Yoshino in collaboration with Upeart and the Tsurumi Public Art Project. The mural is part of the Oulu2026 cultural program, which brings public art into urban spaces as part of the European Capital of Culture year.

“It would be wonderful if there were more of these.”

The idea of having a mural as part of one of our housing companies came from Joo Kodit administrative specialist, Tommi Meriläinen, who has a personal interest in street art. – I’ve always liked murals. You see more of them abroad, and it would be great if there were more in Finland as well. It’s nice that a housing company can bring beauty to its surroundings through art, Meriläinen says.

He explains that he felt Joo Kodit, as a company, was modern and open enough for such an idea. He had been in contact with Upeart previously, and when Oulu was selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2026, the project eventually moved forward to realization.

A work depicting the cycle of nature

Visual artist Momo Yoshino was given free rein in creating the piece. The result is Kami Circulation, a mural inspired by Japanese paper-folding art, origami, which depicts the cycle of life and nature.

The artist drew inspiration from Oulu’s surroundings and the local relationship with nature. According to Upeart’s press release, Yoshino shares the idea behind the work: – This piece tells the story of life’s cycle – how the flat land folds into many forms, like origami, honoring nature, humanity, and the connection between them, Yoshino explains.

An eye-catcher in our own courtyard

The mural has attracted interest from both residents and passersby, and many people stop to admire it. The unveiling event in the autumn drew a large audience, and the work is also included in the Oulu Art Museum’s listings.

– This might even draw tourists from around the world to Oulu, Meriläinen reflects.