20 Stunning Sculptures Around the World That are an Ode to Creativity
23rd December, 2020
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Rarely will you find the work of humans captivating enough to touch your soul. But here are rare works of art that are testament to human-made beauty. Humans are fond of building statues and sculptures to commemorate historical events or pay their respects to individuals. Of the many great pieces of art across the globe, there are some that defy the very laws of physics to exist, and others that exist purely to stun you. These 20 fascinating and enchanting installations across the world make it difficult for you to take your eyes off them. Check them out!
Dancing with Dandelions in Staffordshire, United Kingdom www.fineprintart.com
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Dancing with Dandelions in Staffordshire, United Kingdom
The Trentham Gardens on the Trentham Estate can easily be called one of the most beautiful and scenic places on earth. Of course, adding to the lush greenery and delicately designed pathways are fairies who live at the bottom of the garden. These pretty sculptures, designed and created by Robin Wight, are made with robust steel. They are placed all over the garden and you can even follow the fairy trail to find them.
LOVE by Alexander Milov medium.com
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LOVE by Alexander Milov
Another one of the great sculptures across the world is the installation of “LOVE” by Alexander Milov. The Ukrainian sculptor perfectly depicts the conflict that is present in human beings, both internally and externally. The sculpture is of two adults who have turned their backs to each other in disagreement while each one’s inner child is holding out their hands to each other. It was first presented at the 2015 Burning Man festival.
The Force of Nature by Lorenzo Quinn culturacolectiva.com
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The Force of Nature by Lorenzo Quinn
Another sculpture that will leave you enthralled is “The Force of Nature” by Lorenzo Quinn. This gravity-defying sculpture shows mother earth pivoting the globe with a cloth. It is meant to show the great force and balance that is required to survive and how nature’s wrath could awaken at any time and ravage all that we have. The masterpiece is made in bronze, stainless steel, and aluminum and is available for sale on the artist’s website.
The Caring Hand by Eva Oertli and Beat Huber steemit.com
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The Caring Hand by Eva Oertli and Beat Huber
The Caring Hand is a testament to how humans need to care for nature and live with it. The sculpture, located in Glarus, Switzerland, is made of a hand growing a tree out of it. The cleverly placed art piece is made of concrete and is around 1.6 meters high. The artists originally intended to call it “hand, ”but many have since named it “The Caring Hand.”
Diminish and Ascend by David Mccracken theculturetrip.com
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Diminish and Ascend by David Mccracken
On the shores of Bondi, Australia, you will find a great sculptural installation: “Diminish and Ascend” by David McCraken. This artistic piece gives the viewer the illusion that the stairway is infinite and goes straight into the clouds and heaven. The optical illusion made of aluminum was displayed as part of Australia’s annual event known as “Sculpture by the Sea” in Bondi.
Vicissitudes by Jason Decaires Taylor mamby.com
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Vicissitudes by Jason Decaires Taylor
“Vicissitudes,” created by Jason Decaires Taylor, is a large circle of figures at the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Grenada in the West Indies. All the figures are shackled together and holding hands. There are many rumors on the Internet that state that this sculpture was made to remember and pay homage to the captive Africans who drowned in slave ships while they were being sent to America from Africa .
God of War Statue in China wotupset.medium.com
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God of War Statue in China
The epic 1,320-ton “God of War” statue, designed by Han Meilin, was revealed in the Guan Yu Park in Jingzhou, China, in the year 2016. It is one of the most magnificent and humongous pieces of art ever and stands tall at a whopping 58 meters. The statue was made to commemorate General Guan Yu, who was later deified. Households across the country have little shrines dedicated to Guan Yu.
Ocean Atlas by Jason Decaires Taylor yachtsweetescape.com
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Ocean Atlas by Jason Decaires Taylor
“Ocean Atlas” can be found off the coast of Nassau in the Bahamas. It depicts an 18 feet tall girl carrying the weight of the ocean on her shoulders. The girl is named after Atlas, the Greek God responsible for bearing the weight of the world on his shoulder. That’s not all; the artist Jason Decaires Taylor makes sustainable underwater sculptures that allow reef organisms to grow in places they would otherwise not grow.
The Knotted Gun by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd medium.com
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The Knotted Gun by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd
“The Knotted Gun,” which is a symbol of non-violence, peace, and hope, is known across the world. It is located in Turtle Bay, New York. It was created by the artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd to commemorate the death of John Lenon. The sculpture was first placed in Strawberry fields in Central Park but was later moved outside the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Man Hanging Out by David Cerny blog.go-today.com
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Man Hanging Out by David Cerny
While many get immediately concerned upon looking at this beautiful structure, “Man Hanging Out” is simply a beautiful, fake Sigmund Freud. He hangs above a cobblestone street in Prague, Czech Republic. The statue was created by the sculptor David Cerny. It is a statement about intellectualism in the 20th century and the artist’s quandary about it.
Monument to the Laboratory Mouse by Andrew Kharkevich mapcarta.com
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Monument to the Laboratory Mouse by Andrew Kharkevich
Another intriguing and fascinating sculpture is the “Monument to the Laboratory Mouse in Siberia, Russia. It was completed on 1st July, 2013, and commemorates the sacrifice of mice and rats to propagate genetic research and help with medication development. It is a sculpture of a mouse wearing spectacles and knitting a double helix strand of human DNA.
The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen sarahpeverley.com
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The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen
“The Little Mermaid,” made of bronze and granite, is one of Copenhagen’s greatest attractions. The sculpture is designed after the little mermaid who gives up everything to become a human and be with a handsome prince. It was inspired by Ellen Prince, a ballerina, who played the lead role in the 1909 ballet The Little Mermaid. She was unveiled on 23rd August, 1913.
Expansion by Paige Bradley i.pinimg.com
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Expansion by Paige Bradley
Another great sculpture that is in New York, USA, is “Expansion” by Paige Bradley. The artist made it as a statement for breaking the shackles of containment. It makes us question the box that we are born into. It helps us understand and know how strong we need to be. This piece of art is currently on private display.
The Mustangs of Las Colinas by Robert Glen adventurepatches.com
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The Mustangs of Las Colinas by Robert Glen
The sculpture that is known as “The Mustangs of Las Colinas” is made by Robert Glen and is on display in Texas, USA. The sculpture is made of bronze and consists of nine wild mustangs running around a stream of water made of granite. It was commissioned by Ben H. Carpenter in 1976 and was moved from England to Texas upon completion.
The Headington Shark by John Buckley www.theguardian.com
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The Headington Shark by John Buckley
The most famous resident of Headington, Oxford, is the “Headington Shark.” The structure is made of fiberglass and weighs around four hundred pounds. It was installed on the 41st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The headless sculpture is actually known as “Untitled 1986” but came to be known as the “Headington Shark” after its installation on 9th August, 1986.
Przejście (Passage) by Kalina visitwroclaw.eu
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Przejście (Passage) by Kalina
This eerie sculpture that depicts the period of martial law in communist Poland, shows a group of 14 people, of which 7 can be seen vanishing into the ground on one side of the Świdnicka street in Wroclaw, Poland. On the other side of the street, 7 individuals reemerge from the ground. This installation has always been interpreted as a memorial to those who went missing or were killed during the martial law in 1980s Poland.
First Generation by Chong Fah www.wikiwand.com
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First Generation by Chong Fah
Chong Fah,a self-taught artist, has created many sculptures over the years. Many of them are on display all over Singapore. One of his pieces is known as the “First Generation” and was unveiled on 31st December, 2000. It shows a group of boys jumping into the Singapore River. It depicts the life of people who worked and lived along the river.
De Vaartkapoen by Tom Frantzen www.buzzfeed.com
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De Vaartkapoen by Tom Frantzen
“Da Vaartkapoen”—created by artist Tom Frantzen—is a comic take on society. It represents the idea of dissent and overthrowing authority. The statue features a funny situation of a person trying to topple a policeman. The structure is installed in Molenbeek, Brussels, Belgium, and was created in 1985.
Maman by Louise Bourgeois lesbienraisonnable.com
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Maman by Louise Bourgeois
“Maman” by Louise Bourgeois, which was created in 1884, is on display at the Tate and National Galleries of Scotland. The humongous display consists of a giant spider that represents a mother. The spider is seen protecting a sac filled with seventeen white and grey eggs. The sculpture stands more than nine meters high and is one of the biggest displays in the world.
A Day Out by Marguerite Derricourt www.rundlemall.com
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A Day Out by Marguerite Derricourt
This fascinating piece of art, installed in 1999, has known to bring joy to many passing by the street. “A Day Out” features four little pigs, Horatio, Truffles, Augusta, and Oliver. It is one of the most famous tourist attractions. The art installation cost a whopping $72,000 and raised some eyebrows at the time of purchase. You can find this installation in Adelaide, Australia.