If you ever find yourself driving through Finland along Highway 5 near the town of Suomussalmi, you might come across a very odd sight. There is a crowd of almost 1,000 scarecrow-like figures standing in a field that’s right next to the roadway.
The figures are part of a project called The Silent People, which is a rough translation from the native Finnish term “Hiljainen kansa,” and they were placed there by local artist Reijo Kela.
While most pictures of the site are taken during the summer, Redditor DroidTrf recently found himself in the area in the dead of winter.
It looks like an army of the damned.
Each of the figures is made of wood and topped with a head made of peat moss. They each get a new set of clothes twice a year.
Just for contrast, here’s how they look during the summer. Much less freaky, right?
(via Reddit)
While there is plenty of speculation about the meaning behind this installation, Kela refuses to shed any light on it. Some think that it may have something to do with a particularly brutal battle between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II. Still, we might never know for sure.