Born in Kampinkylä, in Kurikka, Samuli Paulaharju (1875–1944) was an author and folklorist. Paulaharju, who published several books, was one of the best-known authors of his era. The ethnographical collection accumulated by Paulaharju is the world’s largest collection compiled by a single person.
The statue was made by Nina Sailo, a close friend of Paulaharju’s. While Paulaharju recorded the Karelian rune singing traditions in his books, Sailo memorialised the singers with her statues. Originally, the statue was placed in Seurapuistikko park opposite the library but it was later transferred to the yard area of Kurikka’s main library. The stone that serves as the base for the statue came from the Kurikka region.
