Super Tree - A Light Art Installation in the Heart of Helsinki

Superpuu was born from the idea of creating something out of light that people can stop and admire.

In the summer, Kasarmintori’s Superterassi fills with people, sounds, food, drinks, and encounters. The city comes alive all around, but in the midst of it all, there was also a need for something quieter. Something that doesn’t scream for attention, but draws the eye with light, movement, and form.

The idea came from a tree.

A tree is a familiar and comforting symbol. It grows from the ground, rises upward, and spreads out around it. People can gather beneath it, rest in its shade, and meet one another around it. In Superpu, this same idea has been brought into the urban space through the use of light.

Light installations don't just happen on their own

On Tuesday, August 4, artist Jukka Asp wrote the following about his work on LinkedIn:

“Light art installations don’t just happen on their own. They require a lot of time, planning, visualization, mechanics, subcontracting, and expertise in materials and technology.

I don’t know of a single light art installation that wasn’t created with blood, sweat, and tears—and, at times, a touch of despair. We managed to pull off this project as well, but there were certainly plenty of challenges along the way. There’s no denying that.

Yesterday we finished my latest light installation, Superpuun, and today it was installed on the Superterassi.

Go check out the installation—especially in the evenings, when it really comes into its own, but also during the day.

It’s been wonderful to design and create this piece and to bring Ostrobothnian light art to Helsinki.”

Technical Implementation of the Work

The work is composed of nearly twenty black aluminum profiles. Each profile is over three meters long. The lower section rises straight upward like a tree trunk, and the upper section curves outward like a branch. The profiles are assembled into a rising structure that resembles a large flowerpot. At a height of about two meters, they pass through a clear acrylic sleeve that holds the trunk together before the branches fan out in different directions.

Digital SPI LED strips run inside the profiles. Thanks to them, the light isn’t just on or off—it can move, breathe, and change hues. The light in Super Tree can be calm and soft, or it can transform into a vibrant dance of colors. Blue, purple, pink, and other hues flow through the branches as if light were streaming through the tree.

The Super Tree will be on display until the evening of August 13

Superpuu is constructed from technical components, but it is not meant to look like technology. It is an attempt to showcase what good lighting can be at its best: atmosphere, space, direction, and emotion.

It doesn't just light up its surroundings. It makes the place feel a little more special for a moment.

"Super Tree" is an invitation to look up, pause for a moment, and remember that light can also be an experience.

The artwork will be on display until the evening of August 13, during Superterassi’s regular hours: Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Design and Implementation: Jukka Asp / KVS Oy

Title: Super Tree

Location: Superterassi, Kasarmintori, Helsinki