Art that tells the story of the Baltic Sea

Insights|November 19, 2025

The Baltic Sea is a shared natural treasure and serves as a symbol of the collaboration and responsibility that unite the Nordic countries. Continuing this commitment, our Helsinki office now welcomes two new artworks that celebrate the sea and our connection to it.

Two photographic works by Meeri Koutaniemi have found a new temporary home at our Helsinki office, bringing with them the beauty, fragility, and depth of the Baltic Sea. The artworks are part of Me Itämeriläiset (The people of the Baltic Sea), a series created for the John Nurminen Foundation’s art-based Baltic Sea rescue project Tuntematon Itämeri (The unknown Baltic Sea).

The exhibition originally took place in summer 2023, where seven artists were invited to interpret the sea and its meaning to us all. The other pieces of this series are on long-term loan to Espoo’s Matinkylä Upper Secondary School, inspiring students, and teachers alike.

A shared commitment

The arrival of Meeri’s works marks another chapter in our long-standing cooperation with the John Nurminen Foundation. Through pro bono support, we have partnered with the Foundation for many years. This collaboration is rooted in shared values: commitment to sustainability, cultural heritage, and responsibility beyond business.

Art, responsibility and everyday inspiration

The two large-format photographs are printed on lightweight aluminum and designed to withstand the elements. Now placed on our rooftop terrace, they offer both employees and visitors a moment of reflection overlooking the same sea that inspires the work at the foundation.

For Meeri, the project became a visual exploration of identity, belonging and the intertwined relationship between humans and the sea. What began as a sense of unfamiliarity grew into a journey across the archipelago, meeting the people whose lives are shaped by the Baltic. Through these encounters and the use of double exposure, the works blend portraits and seascapes into images that cannot be separated – inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and feel the fragile balance in which the sea exists.

These images and stories of the Baltic Sea are not here just to be seen, but to be experienced.

Meeri Koutaniemi

For us, the artworks also work as reminders of the firm’s ongoing efforts to support meaningful societal causes. Whether through pro bono work, strategic partnerships or sustainability initiatives, Roschier continues to use its expertise to make an impact where it matters most.

“The Baltic Sea connects us all – culturally, environmentally, and emotionally. We are proud to continue our cooperation with the John Nurminen Foundation and to bring a piece of this shared story into our office,” says Johanna Flythström.

(Photos: Peter Seenan)