Sonja Vectomov (sculptor)

Sonja Vectomov (born 8 June 1957) is a Czech sculptor based in Jyväskylä, Finland, known for her bronze statues of Finnish cultural figures.[1]

Sonja Vectomov
Vectomov in Jyväskylä, 1990
Born	Soňa Vižďová 8 June 1957 Hradec Králové, Czechoslovakia
Occupation	sculptor, pedagogue
Years active	1977–present
Spouse(s)	Vladimír Večtomov (m. 1979–1998)
Children	Sonja

In 2010 Vectomov produced a remarkable statue of early 20th century architect and feminist Wivi Lönn,[2] who designed influential buildings in Jyväskylä during the early 1900s. The work was unveiled at the center of a private park facing Lönn's erstwhile mansion,[1][3] the outline of which appears on the base of its pedestal (a reference to Lönn's use of the same outline on the frontispiece of a doghouse she had designed).[3] Moreover, a number of Vectomov's other sculptures are displayed in the public gardens of the Lönn property under the curation of its present owner, Kauko Sorjonen.[4]

In 2015, in observation of painter Reidar Särestöniemi's 90th birthday and concomitantly in honor of the Reidar Särestöniemi Museum's 30th anniversary, Vectomov produced a statue of the painter for the museum.[5][6]

Regarding her chosen medium Vectomov has said, "Bronze is the most precious material on Earth. It is uniquely warm, it may be smooth or rough, and it is dynamic—it is capable of expressing many different things." The subject closest to her heart is "the human form and its many positions, which express a universe of emotions." To each of her works, Vectomov devotes more than 500 hours and 400 pounds of melted bronze. She does not eschew marble but rather accessorises it into bronze works.[1]

Vectomov is a pedagogue at Jyväskylä City Art School. She has said that, as a sculptor, nature is her primary source of inspiration.[1] In 2017 she spoke with Finnish newspaper Keskisuomalainen:

My current work deals with the relationships between oneself, others and one's surrounding environment. During the creative process I try to give my work absolute attention and focus and seek to communicate with my hands the importance of being present—not in the past, nor in the future, but in the here and now.[7]

In 2020, Vectomov unveiled a bronze wildlife sculpture[8] and exhibited a series of large-scale papier-mâché depictions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus interacting with the classical four elements.[9]

Tätitrio

Along with Teija Häyrynen and Leena Pantsu, Vectomov is a member of Tätitrio (Aunt Trio), an Jyväskylä-based theatrical group that performs dramatic works annually in retirement homes and orphanages.[10] Tätitrio primarily adheres to scripted, memorized texts, with the odd improvisational reverie intended to spur audience participation.[11]

References

1. Siilahti, A., "Sonja Vectomov tanssittaa pronssia", Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, Feb 15, 2010.
2. Joenniemi, M., "10 syytä rakastaa naisarkkitehtia", Yle, Mar 6, 2015.
3. Kenkä, "Jyväskylä: Wivi Lönn Walk", Walk Finland (blog), Jun 19, 2012.
4. Rajavuori, T., "Vanhojen rakennusten puolestapuhuja", Museo-lehti, Mar 2016, pp. 14–15.
5. Ylitalo, A., "Särestöön pystytettiin pronssipatsas Reidarista", Lapin Kansa, Sep 11, 2015.
6. Korhonen, J., "Yli 7000 ihmistä astelee Särestön kentillä vuosittain", Yle, Aug 15, 2016.
7. Mahlamäki-Kaistinen, R., "Veistoksia läsnäolosta: Sonja Vectomov teki syntymäpäivänäyttelyn Korpilahden galleriaan", Keskisuomalainen, Mar 13, 2017, p. 31.
8. Partanen, I., "Silvassa paljastettiin ensimmäinen uusi veistos ja vietettiin tupaantuliaisia", KMV-lehti, July 19, 2020.
9. Pihlajarinne, P., "Pronssiveistäjä paperin maailmassa: Kuvanveistäjä Sonja Vectomovin näyttely avaa Galleria Pässin", Jämsän Seutu, July 16, 2020.
10. Kekki, S., "Mummon omenapuu (Teija Häyrynen & Tätitrio), Tanssin aika -festivaali, Jyväskylä", Liikekieli.com, Oct 15, 2006.
11. Kivinen, A., "Elävä joulukalenteri kiertää Jyväskylän kirjastoissa", Keskisuomalainen, Nov 30, 2011.

Further reading

• Divišová, J., ed., Encyklopedie města Hradce Králové (Hradec Králové: Garamon, 2011).