Visitors to Helsinki’s Oodi Library might think the library’s restrooms had moved outside when they see dozens of toilets standing on the plaza, but it’s actually an art project in aid of protecting the Baltic Sea from waste.
The installation was commissioned by the Helsinki Region Environmental Services as part of its campaign to make people aware of how everyday habits can contribute to ocean contamination. The work, titled Itämeren portit or The Baltic Sea’s Gates, features rows of toilet seats bearing messages about what people commonly flush—and where those substances end up.
Another component of the campaign is a display case inside Oodi library showing objects that have ended up in Helsinki’s sewage system. These include children’s toys and various non-biodegradable items often flushed away.
