The Icebreaking Company has acquired a striking fine art aquarelle portrait of Tony Kakko, frontman of the Kemi based band Sonata Arctica, as part of the company’s future partnership and cultural collaboration initiatives.
The artwork was painted by Esa Saajanto, and it will be officially presented in Kemi on May 11, 2026. The artwork is based on an original photograph by Tornio-based Markku Lusku Lukkariniemi. The painting will remain on display in Kemi as a tribute to the strong musical legacy of Sonata Arctica, the region’s cultural expertise, and the kind of international impact that can emerge from Northern Finland and reach audiences around the world.
It all started with one contact – A piece of art meant to stay home
The idea behind the acquisition began with a message from local resident Maarit Pulkkinen to The Icebreaking Company. Pulkkinen introduced the company to the “Oma Kapua 2026 Kilimanjaro” initiative, which raises support for the rights of children and young mothers through an SOS Children’s Village project in Tanzania.
For Pulkkinen, it was important that the impressive artwork, deeply connected to local identity, would remain in Kemi for the people of the city to see and experience.
“The painting is so magnificent that I didn’t want to see it leave Kemi. Sonata Arctica is one of our city’s great international success stories and an important part of Kemi’s cultural history alongside the Icebreaker Sampo”, Pulkkinen says.
Sampo has always brought people together – Northern voices and lasting impressions from Kemi
The Icebreaking Company CEO Jaakko Löppönen immediately connected with the idea, and the decision to acquire the artwork was made quickly.
For the company, the acquisition is not just a single gesture, but a symbolic first step on a much longer journey.
One Sonata Arctica, One Tony Kakko – One Painting, One Story
Tony Kakko and Sonata Arctica are an important part of Kemi’s cultural history and one of the city’s most internationally recognized success stories.
The band’s 30th anniversary year makes the moment especially meaningful.
Partnership does not begin with a contract, but with a shared value
The Icebreaking Company wanted, above all, to ensure that the significant local artwork would remain on display in Kemi and become part of the region’s ongoing story.
“This artwork deserves its place here. It tells a story of Kemi—of courage, music, and how something internationally significant can emerge from a small northern city. We want to be part of preserving and supporting stories like this”, Löppönen adds.
The portrait also serves as an opening toward a new kind of collaborative thinking, where tourism, culture, local people, and experiences come together to shape the future of the region.
Further information
Jaakko Löppönen
CEO
The Icebreaking Company Oy
jaakko.lopponen@icebreaking.com
www.icebreaking.com