Havis Amanda, Bronze fountain in Market Square, Finland
Havis Amanda is an Art Nouveau bronze fountain on Market Square in Helsinki, Finland, featuring a mermaid rising from the water and surrounded by four sea lions. Water-spouting fish amid seaweed decorations complete the composition around the central figure on a pink granite base from Vehmaa.
Sculptor Ville Vallgren created the fountain in Paris during nineteen hundred and six, and the installation was completed in Helsinki's Market Square in nineteen hundred and eight. The work sparked controversy upon its unveiling as the figure's nudity shocked some citizens and triggered public debates about art in urban spaces.
During the annual Vappu celebration on April 30, students place a white cap on the statue's head to mark the beginning of spring festivities. The figure represents Helsinki and carries the nickname Manta, which is widely used across the city by locals and has become part of everyday conversation.
The structure stands five meters tall (sixteen feet) and belongs to the collection of HAM Helsinki Art Museum, remaining accessible throughout the year. Visitors can view the figure from all sides of the square and observe the flowing water during the summer months.
In two thousand and fourteen, an artist constructed a temporary hotel room around the statue, allowing guests to observe the artwork from an indoor perspective. The figure also served as a model for several smaller replicas placed in parks and public spaces across other Finnish cities.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
