In his 1984 poem “The Same Sea in Us All,” Estonian poet Jaan Kaplinski wrote about the ocean as something that both unites and separates. Organized by the Helsinki Art Museum’s Pirkko Siitari and Taru Tappola and taking inspiration from Kaplinski, the inaugural Helsinki Biennial, “The Same Sea,” brings the works of more than forty artists and collectives to the island of Vallisaari, a short ferry ride from the mainland. With a budget of seven million euros and free admission, the biennial is the largest contemporary art event in Finland today. Beyond its maritime theme, the exhibition tackles