Those who have been to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow should recognise the head sculptures in the picture. The installation, known as "Heads", is the brainchild of Sophie Cavein and can be found in the Expression Gallery of the museum. The enthralling exhibit features 95 heads with four different expressions that reflect the ups and downs of emotion in life.


Heads by Sophie Cave at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow (Jun 2008)

CLICK HERE FOR GLASGOW ALBUM

Related post:
Kiat’s Eye View: What is a haggis?

Tags: Scotland:Glasgow, Museum, Sculpture

Spirit City, or Xieng Khuan in Lao, is the brainchild of Bunleua Sulilat, a religious figure with interesting role of yogi-priest-shaman. Built in 1958, the park features a sizable collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures, some of which appear to be unorthodox, if not bizarre, in design but there is definitely no lack of creativity and artistry. Xieng Khuan is located 24 km south of central Vientiane and can be reached by taking a bus (~45 min journey) from Talat Sao Bus Terminal in the city centre.



CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES

Tags: Laos, Sculpture

The Chinese communities around the world celebrate the lunar new year of the ox on 26 Jan 2009. The malls in KL are again lavishly decorated and embellished by festive red lanterns, mei (梅) flowers and ox-related ornaments to mark the annual occasion. Happy niu year (niu=牛=ox) and have an oxpicious year ahead!


"The golden bull of prosperity" at Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur


Red is the colour at 1 Utama, Petaling Jaya

Tags: LunarNewYear, Malaysia, Sculpture

Of course, this has nothing to do with natural disaster. "House Attack" is an artwork by the Austrian artist Erwin Wurm. It was installed at the MUMOK (Museum Moderner Kunst/ Museum of Modern Art) on 18 Oct 2006 to mark the opening of the exhibition Keep A Cool Head by the same artist.



Excerpted from MUMOK website:
"A symbol for conservative, small-minded longings, the single-family house collides into the museum as an temple to the muses, and the museum itself now also becomes part of the sculpture."


MUMOK, Vienna (12/2006)


Youtube clip by MUMOK showing the process of installation:


Related links:

• Wikipedia: Erwin Wurm
  
• MUMOK (Museum Moderner Kunst)
  
• Picture of Erwin Wurm and "House Attack"

Tags: Austria, Sculpture

The bronze Florentine wild boar "Porcellino" at the Mercato Nuovo is probably not a must-see for visitors who flock to the city but its popularity is clearly reflected by its shinny snout, stroked for bringing good luck and to ensure a return to Florence in the future. There are also several copies (see link) of the sculpture around the world. The beast in front of the Moderna Museet in Stockholm certainly looks identical and there is a similar one in front of Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum in Munich. This group of wild boars does seem to roam over the continent!


Il Porcellino, Mercato Nuovo, Florence


Moderna Museet, Stockholm


Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum, Munich

Please click HERE for my collection of SCULPTURES!

Tags: Sculpture, Italy, Sweden, Germany

Somethings that are familiar to all Strathclyde students and alumni!


Prometheus - The Gift of Science to Liberty (1994) by Jack Faulds Sloan


Mhtpothta/ Maternity (2004) by George Wyllie

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES OF THE UNIVERSITY

Tags: Scotland:Glasgow, Sculpture

"Here is the bird that never flew
Here is the tree that never grew
Here is the bell that never rang
Here is the fish that never swam"


These verses summarise the four miracles performed by St Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow. The bird, tree, bell and fish are not only featured in the coat of arms but also cleverly depicted in various guises throughout the city!



At the Royal Concert Hall



On a high street tenement



Street light near Glasgow Cathedral



Signboard in one of the local parks


Related links

• Wikipedia: Saint Mungo
  
• Glasgow: Scotland with Style: Coat of Arms

Tags: Scotland:Glasgow, Sculpture, Sign

Look down too when you travel, for someone might be looking up at you, especially in Bratislava!



Čumil in Bratislava (12/2006)



CLICK the album above for more MANHOLE COVER ART


External links

• Bratislava Guide: Old town statues
  
• 7 slivák / 7 plums: Čumil
  
• Wikipedia: Why are manhole covers generally round?

Tags: Sculpture, Slovakia

If you happen to stroll along Leopoldstrasse in Munich, be prepare to meet the gigantic Walking Man. Hidden from tourist maps, this 17-metre-tall bold white sculpture belongs to the Munich Re Group, a large reinsurance company, that also owns the office building behind it.




Walking Man by Jonathan Borofsky in front of the Munich Re office building at Leopoldstrasse (06/2008)

Excerpted from Munich Re Group (Source):
Walking Man, 1995 The area in front of the building on Leopoldstrasse is dominated by the sculpture "Walking Man". The 17-metre-tall, 16-tonne figure by the American artist Jonathan Borofsky, with its dynamic, out-reaching form, stands in contrast to the strictly geometric pattern of the facade behind it. As it strides out, the sculpture gives the impression of striving forward and serves as a symbol for a society geared to performance and dynamism.
© Munich Re, Munich

Tags: Germany, Sculpture

Advanced Financial Economics exam question:
What do the bull, the bear and the bird have to do with financial markets?




The bull and the bear in front of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (2006)

External links:

• Wikipedia: Bull market and Bear market
  
• Investopedia: Where did the bull and bear market get their names?

Tags: Animal, Germany, Sculpture

The place referred to earlier as "Land of Tartan and Kilt" is actually better known as Scotland (as you might have guessed :-P). This statue in the capital tells the story of a faithful dog, known as Bobby.

The Statue of Greyfriars Bobby in Edinburgh (2006)

Tags: Scotland:Edinburgh, Sculpture