Helsinki

The ability of President Lennart Meri to see in multiple directions at once and his versatile talent in various fields gave him the brilliance to shine like the Kaali meteorite, which flew across the sky in a bright blaze and left its mark on European folklore, from Greek mythology to the Finnish Kalevala. Even though Lennart had many faces, he always championed the Estonian cause. Meri is an Estonian landmark. The mark of Estonia. Ultima Thule.

The artwork in front of the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki combines the sharpness of stainless steel with the warmth and dignity of the Saaremaa dolomite. In essence, the piece represents a sheet of paper – a symbol of endless possibilities and new beginnings – folded in half. From the metal sheet emerge two profiles of President Meri – a positive and a negative. One face looks south-west, towards Saaremaa and Kaali, while the other looks west. Much like the two-faced Roman god Janus, he gazes simultaneously into the future and the past, acting as a gateway and mediator between two worlds. This was precisely the role of President Lennart Meri in Estonian history – a guide during transition and rebirth. A trickster and shaman who had the ability to bend time, space, and rules using the power of words. Stainless steel as a material is pure and vibrant. Upon it, we can see reflections of ourselves and the sky, and the movement of light. In contrast, the dolomite imparts a sense of solidity and balance. With its minimalist design, the artwork perfectly complements the architecture of the Estonian Embassy – elegance and dignity achieved with simple means, combined with Scandinavian modesty and clarity. Engraved on the piece is a quote from Lennart Meri’s speech at a reception in honour of Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari on 31 May 1994, during a state visit to Estonia: ‘Estonia is the only place in the world for a Finn where meat is meat, fish is fish, blood is blood, and water is water, and this holds true in reverse for an Estonian.’ The quote expresses the uniquely close relationship between our two peoples and countries.

The sculpture is positioned in the garden as a signpost, the centre of a symbolical world. Where to next? East? West? Thule?

The authors of the monument are Eva Unt and Margus Tammik.