Everything Is Possible

The sculpture was destroyed by fire 10.1.2018.

The piece by Villu Jaanisoo is made of used car tyres. Depicting a sitting gorilla, it is almost five metres tall. With his work, the artist wants to draw attention to issues concerning the origins, responsibilities and future of humankind. According to him, the gorilla is a reminder of endangered animal species whose habitats have been decimated by human activity. The use of a recycled material calls attention to the ecological dimension. Jaanisoo hopes that the animal will delight the residents of Viikki and provide a counterbalance to scientific research and studies at the university campus.

Born in Tallinn, Jaanisoo has created several public artworks in Finland, Estonia and other countries. Jaanisoo’s piece was commissioned by the State Art Commission. It was the winning entry in an invitational competition for an environmental artwork for the Viikki campus of the University of Helsinki, organised in 2006. The work was located in front of the Info Centre Korona. It didn’t belong to the Helsinki city’s Art Collection.

Villu Jaanisoo is best known for his large sculptures and a masterful use of different materials.