Glow-up – Awaken to Your New Brilliance at Citycenter

Magnificent butterflies greet you with their beauty in the light atrium of Citycenter. Their radiant elegance leads you to the second-floor Glow-up recycled art exhibition, which explores personal growth and transformation.

The exhibition takes visitors through a metamorphosis – a process where recycled plastic is turned into something new and beautiful. It serves as a reminder that we all have the ability to change, grow, and flourish, regardless of our starting point.

The works in the recycled art exhibition are made using as much recycled material as possible, including contributions from the shops within Citycenter.

Citycenter Glow-up – this is your journey.

Experience the Glow-up – Explore the Artworks

Butterfly eggs

Glow-up starts from the beginning – with who you are right now.

Luminous recyclous eggs are the first stage of metamorphosis into a butterfly.

Luminous recyclous eggs are often seen in backyards during the summer. They usually hang side by side in a pearl-like ribbon, for example, from one tree branch to another. They are especially often found near patio tables and dining groups.

The eggs, which look quite modest during the day, take on their magnificent glow when the evening falls. A female luminous recyclous usually lays 10-20 eggs at a time. Sometimes eggs can be found in surprising places, such as shopping malls. In November-December, you may see a lot of luminous recyclous eggs, but then it is a different species, the Christmas luminous recyclous (luminous recyclous jingle-jingle).

Butterfly larva (caterpillar bench)

Development takes time.

The larval stage of the luminous recyclous butterfly is the second stage of metamorphosis, the transformation into a butterfly.

The larva of the luminous recyclous butterfly is a magnificent sight, even in terms of its size. Under good conditions, the larva can grow up to three meters long. The busy toddler of the butterfly family explores the world with the glint of the next meal in its eyes. For nutrition, the larva pops plastic with a huge appetite.

During digestion, enzymes in the stomach convert plastic compounds into light, which is where the species-typical glow comes from. In recent years, the larvae of the luminous recyclous butterfly have been utilized not only in waste treatment plants, but also in urban environments to bring warm light and, due to their bench properties, in parks, bus and tram stops, for example.

Butterfly cases

Self-awareness leads to flourishing. Be present to yourself – stop and cocoon yourself for a moment.

The third stage of the luminous recyclous metamorphosis is cocooning.

The luminous recyclous' cases are surprisingly small in relation to the size of the larva. The larva looks for a suitable cocooning place and begins to spin a plastic strip around itself using a 3D printer located at its rear (some subspecies also have wood composite printers), which after a complex condensation process crystallizes into glass and achieves a hard and solid shape. When an adult butterfly has hatched from the cocoon, these luminous recyclous cases are collected as raw material for the glass industry. One person's trash is another's treasure! They are used in glass factories and workshops to make the most imaginative creations, to the delight of glass art lovers.

Butterfly

Each stage has prepared you for the best version of yourself – you are ready.

The fourth stage of the luminous recyclous metamorphosis is the emergence into its full glory: the butterfly.

The highest peak of plastic recycling evolution, the adult luminous butterfly, hatches from its cocoon, fully ready to spread its wings to be carried by the winds of the world. It likes to seek out the company of its fellow species, and together they often form installation-like clusters, like works of light art.

The wingspan of a single butterfly can be over three meters. The color range of luminous butterflies varies from delicate pink through intense aniline to violet-blue, depending on the food consumed during the larval period.

Angle mirror

We are in constant change, both with ourselves and in our relationships with other people and the world. Mirror reflects the diversity of identity, introspection and spiritual growth.

Humans are the world in miniature – and every human action has an impact on the world. A mirror that imitates the round shape of the Earth guides us to reflect on our own choices for a better world.

Flower wall

The path of growth ends in flowering. The flowers made of plastic are made from recycled material. It reflects your growth through difficulties to victory. With perseverance, creativity, and a touch of imagination, even many challenges can be overcome — and eventually be turned into strengths.

Face mirror

See your new strong self, you are ready for anything.

At the same time, you can challenge yourself by asking yourself what state your own recycling habits are in? Where are you already succeeding beautifully, and in which areas could you still find room for improvement?

Glow up was born from the metamorphosis of glass artist Mira Ollila

Glass artist Mira Ollila moved from ballet to glass art after retiring from the Finnish National Ballet at the age of 44. The change was her own metamorphosis, which inspired the themes of change and growth for the Citycenter Glow up recycle art exhibition.

In glass art, Mira is fascinated by the dialogue between movement and material – the precise gestures of the human body are recorded in the shape of glass. In her work, she combines sensitivity and sustainability, and strives for a deep human touch with her art. Recycling and green values are an essential part of Mira’s everyday life and art. In the Glow up exhibition, Ollila challenges viewers to see everyday objects as new, artistic possibilities and to utilize recycled materials creatively.

“Glow up your summer!” Mira advises.

“A dash of creativity, three pinches of imagination and a generous dose of “thinking outside the box” is a recipe that everyone should try – and the wonderful art summer of 2025 can begin!”