Robotic Revelry in Finland Sparks Debate on AI and Nostalgia
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A bar full of boisterous robots is turning heads in Tornio, Finland, prompting reflection on both the economic hardships of the 1990s and the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence.
- Robots Vege, Tortsua, and Marina are currently featured in an exhibit at the Rajalla På Gränsen shopping center in Tornio.
- The artwork, created by Teija and Pekka Isorättyä, draws inspiration from the Finnish recession of the 1990s and the culture surrounding it.
- The robots’ dialog is based on the humor of Samuli Pörhölä from the 1990s.
- The exhibit is part of the Aineen taidemuseo’s 40th-anniversary celebrations and the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture events.
A lively scene unfolds at a makeshift bar within a Tornio shopping center, where robots named Vege, Tortsua, and Marina engage in animated conversation, drawing curious onlookers.The exhibit, titled Tipaton tammikuu (sober January), is the creation of local artists teija and Pekka isorättyä, and is currently on display at the Rajalla På Gränsen shopping center.
Echoes of a Recession
The artwork’s roots lie in the economic downturn of 1990s Finland. “Alcohol culture really took off during the recession and was a part of our youth,” explained Teija Isorättyä. “We’ve brought that time in Tornio into the age of robots.The robots are, so to speak, a bit wild, like the people of Tornio.”
The robots, seen drinking beer and chatting at the bar, deliver lines penned by Samuli Pörhölä in the 1990s. “Alcohol is a bit like a double-edged sword,” Teija Isorättyä added. “When you see a bar, you feel like going there, but your mind can change when you listen to the people inside, like these robots.”
International Acclaim
The Isorättyäs’ work has garnered attention on a global scale, with the boisterous robots recently showcased at the Ennova Art Biennial in Langfang, China. The exhibit proved popular with Chinese audiences.
“They immediately sat down on the empty stools at the bar and took pictures with them,” Pekka Isorättyä recounted. “The Chinese also wanted to clink glasses with the robot.”
