The Footprint of a Giant is a multidisciplinary, place-based art project by textile artist and art teacher Maija Esko.
The project focuses on uncovering the quiet, overlooked historical layers and traces of life in the area around lake Lutta (Lutanjärvi) in Eurajoki. The lake still follows the shoreline of ancient seas and is linked to a local story about a giant’s footprint, which the shape of the lake is said to resemble. This story provides a starting point for exploring the long history and lived experiences of the place.
The aim of the project is to make the environment visible and to deepen the meanings connected to it. Rather than concentrating only on the distant past, the project moves between prehistory and the present day. Art is used as a way to create a symbolic path through the landscape, inviting different ways of encountering and understanding the site.
The project’s transformative potential lies in bringing attention to a place that is easily passed by or forgotten. By highlighting hidden and lesser-known histories, the project opens space for new interpretations and meaningful connections to emerge. Art creates a quiet dialogue within the environment, offering new perspectives on the area’s story and identity. Increased awareness strengthens the value of the place for both local residents and visitors.
The Footprint of a Giant (Jättiläisen jalanjälki) is carried out in collaboration with others and develops at a pace shaped by the place and its inhabitants. Working in environments shared by people and other animals, on private land and in forest requires care and sensitivity. Building something together takes time and calls for an open, responsive approach.
While residential settings may not allow permanent structures introduced from outside, the project shows how the subtle language of art can tell a shared story of place in ways that engage, respect, and include local communities.
