To mark the Easter travel season, Vilnius International Airport set up an “Easter egg” display in its departures hall. It could be called a sculpture of sorts – but it could also be called a warning to travelers. That’s because this 1.5-meter (five-foot) tall work of art is made up of 1,000 objects that were confiscated by airport security.
A “festive art piece”
Set up on April 5th, Vilnius Airport is calling this Easter egg-shaped sculpture a “festive art piece.” In a public release, the airport’s managing organization, Lithuanian Airports, stated:
“Lithuanian airports decided to remind their passengers about aviation safety in the most unexpected way. As of starting [the] new summer season, Vilnius International Airport greets its’ passengers with a festive art piece – a colorful Easter egg made from items that are not permitted on board.”
Photo: Chris Loh | Simple Flying
Standing 1.5 meters tall (approximately five feet), this installation consists of objects such as knives, scissors, lighters, and razor blades. Upon closer inspection, the ‘egg’ also includes packs of the handheld firework known as sparklers, which apparently also go by the name “Bengal candle.”
How the plan was ‘hatched’
The plan for this art piece came from Mr Algirdas Venzlauskas, a shift manager at Vilnius Airport’s Aviation Security Department. Describing how he came up with the idea, Venzlauskas said:
“We have a backlog of these small but prohibited items found in hand luggage, as we have to dispose of them safely according to the rules. One day, it occurred to me that it might be possible to reuse them in a practical and meaningful way. As these items are multi-colored, they were perfect for creating an Easter egg. It draws the attention of passengers and thus fulfills its educational purpose. It is also a way of bringing playfulness to our serious and responsible routine at the airport,”
Photo: Chris Loh | Simple Flying
Once the idea was approved, it would take several months to create the sculpture. A metal frame was constructed, and the thousand or so objects were glued onto it.
No butter knives?
Interestingly, a good portion of the sculpture includes rounded butter knives. This is particularly surprising given that many full-service carriers provide butter knives to passengers in premium class cabins, for meal services.
Using a slightly vague diagram, Vilnius Airport’s website notes that knives with blades 6 cm (2.36 inches) in length are prohibited. This policy doesn’t specify the type of knife, which would explain why butter knives have been confiscated. At the same time, it’s worth pointing out that the TSA, on its website, notes that “knives, except for plastic or round-bladed butter knives, are not allowed in carry-on bags.” This indicates that round-bladed butter knives are indeed allowed in carry-on bags (at least going through US airports). Ultimately it’s a good reminder to check airport websites for policies and to keep in mind that different aviation authorities have different rules.
What do you think of Vilnius airport’s Easter sculpture? Have you had anything confiscated that you were surprised about? Share your experiences by leaving a comment!
Sources: TSA, Vilnius Airport
