When Finnish sculptor Carl Wilhelm Vallgren created this 16.5 foot statue in 1906, he named her The Mermaid. She represented the rebirth of Helsinki emerging from the sea. It is now commonly called Havis Amanda. This Art Nouveau ensemble includes four fish spraying water which, according to legend, enhances male potency. Merenneito received extensive criticism from women when The Mermaid was unveiled in 1908. Today, the bronze is widely accepted as one of the city’s iconic artworks.
