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All Finland Helsinki Tire Gorilla
Tire Gorilla is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

Tire Gorilla

A giant gorilla made of used car tires used to sit sentinel over a Helsinki college campus.

Helsinki, Finland

Added By
Max Lysenko
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Tire Gorilla   Kārlis Kanders on Flickr
Tire Gorilla   Kārlis Kanders on Flickr
Tire Gorilla   Esa Pitkänen on Flickr
Tire Gorilla   xoox / Atlas Obscura User
Tire Gorilla   দেবর্ষি রায় on Flickr
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About

Sitting with the serene posture of a zen master on the campus of Helsinki University's Viikki campus is one of the more unique animals to ever grace a university quad: a massive gorilla figure made entirely of automobile tires known as, Everything is Possible.

The huge piece of art is the work of Finnish artist Villu Jaanisoo who won a national invitational contest. Made out of rubber tires that were bent and shaped to form the colossal beast, the ape's pose is more calm than menacing, even with the similarities to King Kong. From top to bottom, the creature is almost 17 feet tall. Students and visitors often climb up into the gorilla's arms, looking about the size of an infant in comparison.

Helsinki University's Viikki campus is known as the life sciences center for the college, focusing on the school's biology, agriculture, and veterinary programs. Nicknamed the "Green Campus," the gorilla-shaped tire pile might seem like a strange fit for the space, but the statue represents not only the diversity of life, but also the a focus on environmentalism and reuse. While these connotations may be foremost in the minds of the students that wander past the work each day, for many Everything is Possible simply represents the strange wonder of a world where a giant gorilla made of tires can exist.       

Update: On January 10th 2018 the Tire Gorilla was set ablaze and destroyed.

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Colleges Art Sculptures Animals

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Located in Viikinkaari street, behind Viikin tiedepuisto bus stop.

Community Contributors

Added By

xoox

Edited By

ahvenas, hrnick, IrajV, serpent...

  • ahvenas
  • hrnick
  • IrajV
  • serpent
  • amihander
  • EricGrundhauser

Published

December 4, 2014

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Sources
  • https://ru.foursquare.com/v/gorilla/4fb915a9e4b0662ecdcabbde
  • https://plus.google.com/+JarkkoYli-Heikkuri/posts/CaRu4dAhEs3
  • http://voiceonecreativity.blogspot.com/2010/08/giant-gorilla-made-of-recycled-tires.html
  • https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005519013.html?utm_medium=social&utm_content=ios.is.fi&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=messenger-share
Tire Gorilla
Viikki
Helsinki, 00790
Finland
60.227332, 25.012148
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Nearby Places

Sompasauna

Helsinki, Finland

miles away

Asemapäällikönhovi Building

Helsinki, Finland

miles away

Old Bear Castles of Korkeasaari Zoo

Helsinki, Finland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Helsinki

Helsinki

Finland

Places 27
Stories 4

Nearby Places

Sompasauna

Helsinki, Finland

miles away

Asemapäällikönhovi Building

Helsinki, Finland

miles away

Old Bear Castles of Korkeasaari Zoo

Helsinki, Finland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Helsinki

Helsinki

Finland

Places 27
Stories 4

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