This project started with a story – the story of a Colombian family farm where coffee is grown with care, and that journey continues all the way to a cup served in a small café in Helsinki. When I was invited to create an artwork for Finca Las Ventanas, I wanted to express that connection between origin and destination through a visual piece that feels warm, grounded, and meaningful.
The organic texture and earthy tones of Konto material echo the landscapes of Colombia – rolling hills, shaded trees, and the soft light of morning. I translated these elements into abstract, layered forms: not literal representations, but quiet evocations of place and memory.
Mounted along the middle café wall, the installation offers a sense of horizon – a calm presence that unfolds gradually as you move through the space. It brings a subtle contrast to the café’s clean Nordic lines, adding depth and a touch of narrative.
The aim was to create more than decoration. This piece is a window into another world, rooted in nature, tradition, and a shared respect for craft—just like the coffee served here. Whether visitors know the story or not, I hope they can feel something real in it.
The artwork Virgil created for my coffee shop in Helsinki has added great value to the space. Made from natural Finnish peat, it beautifully reflects the mountainous landscape surrounding my family’s organic coffee farm in Colombia, where our coffee beans are grown.
This piece enhances the atmosphere with its thoughtful design, creating a unique connection between the coffee we offer and Finnish craftsmanship. It has been a wonderful addition that both my customers and I deeply appreciate.
I highly recommend Virgil's skills and dedication for his creative and professional approach to design.
MIKKO KAUPPINEN
Finca Las Ventanas offers an authentic Colombian experience, serving coffee and cocoa sourced directly from their own farm in Colombia. In addition to hot drinks, the menu includes traditional Colombian specialties like pandebono (cheese bread) and arepas (corn cakes).
The atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed, ideal for both social gatherings and solo work. The space is designed to be communal, providing a comfortable environment for various activities.
Customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the exceptional coffee quality, friendly service, and pleasant ambiance. Many visitors appreciate being able to enjoy freshly roasted coffee made from beans that come directly from the family’s farm in Colombia.
Finca Las Ventanas is more than just a café; it’s a bridge between Colombian and Finnish cultures, offering a unique culinary and social experience in Helsinki.
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The photos taken on-site were the most helpful in solving the visual layout. From them, I extracted the mountain profiles, the depth of the layers, and especially the silhouette of one particular tree that I felt was key to the landscape’s identity. The elongated shape of the piece allowed me to lay out all the profiles along a clear horizontal flow, balanced by the vertical presence of the tree. These two directions in the composition create balance in the image, while the setting sun adds a focal point and a touch of color.
The relatively simple cuts produced material pieces that were later painted according to the sketch. In contrast, the tree silhouette has such a complex profile that I chose to cut it from a single piece to make assembly easier.
Because the piece was installed at a low height, there was no need for scaffolding or any other supporting structure. The Konto pieces were glued one by one from left to right, and thanks to the precise measuring and cutting, the entire work aligned perfectly at the other end. The tree silhouette was added afterward as an extra layer, giving the whole composition a sense of depth.
Virgil Niiranen virgil.niiranen@fusionwall.fi 0445535572