The bronze sculpture A Meeting in Turku in 1812 depicts an event of great significance in Finnish history: the meeting between tsar Alexander I and Swedish Crown Prince Charles John in the governor’s house that once stood nearby. The negotiations concerned major issues in European politics, but the talks also resulted in Sweden finally relinquishing all claims to Finland.

Andrei Kovalchuk is a Russian sculptor and Chair of the Russian Union of Artists. He specialises in depicting historical figures. In his work in Turku, he brings the historical protagonists close to people today, allowing viewers to encounter them at close range.