ANNA-LEA KOPPERI
REEDS

Reeds is an ecologically focused project about freshwater reeds, a minimal gesture towards the possibility that man might have some impact on the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea. In the spring and summer of 2006, on the shore near the Kokkila ferry, the colours and heights of cut and uncut reedbeds change as new reeds grow and cows get to enjoy this art work too.

As a child I heard my parents describe how, using a boat, they used to cut the reeds in Luotsisaari, Angelniemi. They then took them to feed their two cows. In these descriptions there was something particularly lovely about the exotic warmth of the hot summer days. That had all happened in far-off southwest Finland where there were plum- and other fruit-trees. Going back to Angelniemi as an adult, I experienced the thrill of the ferry ride and looked at the lush reed-beds. In fact, the flourishing golden reeds were evidence that the place where they are growing, the Baltic Sea, is irrevocably polluted. In an attempt to show that it is possible for people to do something about this situation, I wanted, by means of my project, to start again the beautiful and sensible reed-cutting that I had heard about.