20 Strange Sculptures (Part I)
By Village Mayor • Nov 17th, 2008 • Category: Art, Latest Post, The Best of Village of JoyI really hate people taking photos near the sculptures. When I was traveling around the Europe with my friends, I just couldn’t get why people think that they have to make a photo near every sculpture.
Is it in our genes? Or is there some kind of magnet in those sculptures? Well ok, there might be some sculptures that I would like to have a photo standing near them… Check this awesome list of 20 strange sculptures around the world.
1. Vomiting Fountain Sculpture, London, UK
(Image credits: akanekal)
The sculptor really has a sense of humor, I see.
2. Traffic Light Tree, London, UK
(Image credits: Squirmelia)
What would you do if you stop by this traffic light while driving?
Designed by Pierre Vivant, “Traffic Light Tree” has 75 sets of traffic lights. The sculpture was created to mimic a tree structure and reflect the energy of the developing Canary Wharf area.
3. Fancy Cow, Düsseldorf, Germany
(Image credits: Farruska)
Is it a British police uniform? This sculpture stands in someone’s garden.
4. Skull on a man, Prague, Czech Republic
(Image credits: Steve Montgomery)
A really odd sculpture, that is said to be “inspired” by the works of Kafka.
5. Two peeing guys, Prague, Czech Republic
(Image credits: Chaymation)
Sculpture by David Cerny. Let’s just cite the picture author here:
” The idea is disarmingly simple. Two bronze sculptures pee into their oddly-shaped enclosure.
While they are peeing, the two figures move realistically. An electric mechanism driven by a couple of microprocessors swivels the upper part of the body, while the penis goes up and down. The stream of water writes quotes from famous Prague residents.
Visitor can interrupt them by sending SMS message from mobile phone to a number, displayed next to the sculptures. The living statue then ‘writes’ the text of the message, before carrying on as before.”
6. Guy on a bicycle, Chile
(Image credits: peterme)
This guy has a spyglass instead of a head, and seems to be riding to the sky, towards the stars. A nice idea, when you think of it.
7. Ballerina man, Los Angelo’s, CA, USA
(Image credits: ‘SeraphimC)
If I met someone looking like that, I wouldn’t shake his hand.
8. Skeletons in love, Nong Khai, Northeast Thailand
(Image credits: peterkellystudios)
In love even after their death, must really stand out at the cemetery.
9. Certainties on the gravitation of an Elephant, Paris, France
(Image credits: PhOtOnQuAnTiQuE)
Quote: “At a distance of 18,000 km from the earth, the elephant Wursa could balance on her trunk.
It is on the basis of learned scientific calculations that Daniel Firman reached this conclusion, and came above all to produce this extraordinary work which confounds all our certainties regarding the gravitation of bodies.”
10. Sculpture of Pig as Chinese Monk, Phoenix, Arizona
(Image credits: Daniel Greene)
What is common between a monk and a pig?
11. The Spider that Ate Parliament, Ontario, Canada
(Image credits: Lone Primate)
“Shot from this angle, it appears to be attacking the Parliament Buildings. “ Notice a little guy near the spiders leg, the sculpture is really huge.
12. Disturbing sculpture, location unknown
(Image credits: orionoir)
I don’t get it – how can anyone create such sculptures? Ugly and disturbing! What’s the purpose of having it?
13. Pig the Cyclist, Texas, USA
(Image credits: ashe-villain)
Someone was using hard drugs..
14. Engagement Rings, Vancouver, Canada
(Image credits: Troy B Thompson)
Two engagement rings in the ground at English Bay.
By Dennis Oppenheim, made of glass, steel, and Aluminum. Must be a good place to engage.
15. Rusty Men, London, UK
(Image credits: mightyupsetter)
Quote from the photographer: “I’m fairly sure it’s Anthony Gormley, from the style and nature of the sculpture”
16. A Crocodile eating a Capitalist, Brooklyn, NY, USA
(Image credits: CC Chapman)
A crocodile eating a capitalist? I would have built such sewer covers all across the Soviet Union for the propaganda purposes!
17. Device to Root Out Evil, Vancouver, Canada
(Image credits: ms_cwang)
Sculpture by Dennis Oppenheim “Device to Root Out Evil”. Do you know the idea of this upside down church?
18. Mystic Carhenge near Alliance, Nebraska, USA
(Image credits: Kevin Saff)
Wikipedia: “Carhenge is a replica of England’s Stonehenge located near the city of Alliance, Nebraska on the High Plains. Instead of being made from stones (as is the case with the original Stonehenge), Carhenge is constructed of vintage American automobiles, all covered with gray spray paint. Built by Jim Reinders”
19. Chasing One Another, Tokyo, Japan
(Image credits: tanakawho)
I just love that one, what are they doing?
20. Passing through the wall, Montmartre, Paris
(Image credits: Chaymation)
It looks like this guy is passing through that wall. He also has an ugly hand. One of my favorites on this list of 20 strange sculptures.
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November 13th, 2009 at 11:44 am
These are amazing! I would travel the world just to see some of these statues.
November 1st, 2009 at 1:53 pm
This was taken in Japan in 2004, but I don’t remember the location, because we were on a bus.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Nice collection of images though, I just don’t want to take credit for other peoples photos!
October 30th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
On the crocodile eating a Capitalist, it is located downtown brooklyn by the Metro techs. In front of 2 Metrotech to be exact. In the courtyard where people can eat on the benches near the au bon pain, chinese restaurant etc.
October 6th, 2009 at 12:29 am
i like all sulpture except one which name was disturbing sclupture its a big qusetion that why someone made this kind of sclupture i think he was very insesitive person.
October 5th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
A good collection.
In reference to 12 – the one that seems hard to fathom – I think it is about birth and death. The man is thin and dying, but in a foetal position which demonstates the circle of life and similarities between humans in birth and death – we regress in death. The ugliness of the sculptures perhaps make a point about how birth and death can seem ugly – although maybe not everything in between is. It also reminds us that for every death a new life is born and of the seeming eternity of human existence.
Goes to show that sometimes the best art is the ugly art that provokes deeper thought and discussion.
Hope this helps! (And doesn’t sound too know-it-all!)
September 14th, 2009 at 10:14 am
I’ve seen #20 while walking through Paris! It’s very random…
September 8th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
IT’S THE WHOLE BIRTH-DEATH-REBIRTH MILIEU, iT’S FATHER TIME BECOMING A BABY AY NEW YEARS. IT’S THE METAMORPHOSES OF A CHRYSALIS TO A BUTTERFLY. i’M NOT SO PROUD,I DON’T THINK IT WON’T HAPPEN TO ME.
September 7th, 2009 at 6:10 am
I think that your comment for 12 was harsh. While you don’t have to like them, you’re only showing your ignorance
by merely dismissing them with “they’re ugly, what’s their purpose?” Not all works of art have to be pretty flowers
you know. Obviously the artist didn’t make them for you. Many of my paintings are scenes of disturbing imagery
and while I understand that many people won’t like them because they aren’t of pretty, comforting things, at least
I’m being true to myself.
June 18th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
TWO YOU MISSED-AT A WEST BERLIN TRAIN STATION THERE IS A WOMAN IN A BUSINESS SUIT STARING SIDEWAYS AT YOU IN A HURRIED GAIT AND SHE HAS A BRIEFCASE IN EACH HAND.
AT THE SAN FRANCISCO FERRY BUILDING THERE IS A MAHATMA GHANDI WITH A ONE INCH GAP IN HIS CANE.
June 11th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Those are awesome! I live in brooklyn and i have yet to see that one. Where is it located?
June 5th, 2009 at 3:39 am
10. Sculpture of Pig as Chinese Monk, Phoenix, Arizona
I think this is with reference to a Chinese Mythology – Journey to the West
May 12th, 2009 at 1:44 am
The Pig as a Chinese Monk is Actually from “Journey to the West”.
April 30th, 2009 at 2:32 am
@ Michael Grant
Other sculptures in Prague by the Entropa artist David Cerny:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pavel-helge/3281719647/
http://pavel-helge.dk/den-lyser%C3%B8de-tank/ (in danish)
Cheers
April 29th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Anon! try being more open minded. Pointing out perceived immaturity or ineloquence in others opinions only serves to highlight your own insecurities. All the best.
April 24th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Oui, but what is art without critics Mon Amni? If it is not ugly to some, it cannot be beautiful to others, Yes?
April 24th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I don’t get why someone would write an article about ART when that person is obviously biased, judgmental, close-minded, and doesn’t care about art at all. “I don’t understand this piece so I’m just gonna say something ignorant like ‘how can anyone create such sculptures? Ugly and disturbing! What’s the purpose of having it?’!” Grow up.
April 24th, 2009 at 6:35 am
What a ridiculous guy/girl has written his comments for the sculptures…
He/She doesnt have a lot of imagination obviously!!
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:07 pm
David Cerny has also made this http://www.flickr.com/photos/pavel-helge/3294413127/ i thought that matched the other ones. The horse hangs in the Lucerna mall in Prague
April 10th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Hooray for Artists who make provocative Art! Boo to self appointed Critics who post nothing but their sour small mindness all over other people’s efforts without having the creativity or courage to share laughter, beauty, or socially relevant commentary with the world. (If you can’t say anything nice then…….)
April 7th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Intresting collection of sculptures…when i got to 12, i thought it was real and gritty, birth and death, which is a reality for us all…but our soul/conciousnes is eternal…which has neither birth nor death…
March 31st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
The “pig monk” is from an old tail in Buddhism and holds great meaning, please do your research before you say anything.
March 29th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I thought the traffic light tree photo was photoshoped
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:03 pm
This is right here, in the present, not the future.
March 21st, 2009 at 12:27 pm
What I don’t quite understand, is why in hell you would post art if you’re not going to be unprejudiced in viewing it. Although Im sure you’ve been chastised for it already a million times by viewers, but I feel it deserves one more go. Art is subjective. It’s not to make parks ‘pretty’ its to express your views.
March 21st, 2009 at 2:26 am
The Device to Root out Evil has recently moved to Calgary, Canada!
And yesterday I learned that the artist intended it to be a Schoolhouse rather than a church which completely changes the way I see it.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:21 am
One more great collection of unusual sculptures:
http://fima-psuchopadt.livejournal.com/2656225.html
Highly recommended
March 17th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
The Spider in ottawa is not on parliment hill, its in front of the national art gallery next to majors hill (witch is right across the river from parliment). Nice collection though.
March 16th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
chasing each other no fantasizing and licking ass yes
March 16th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
#13 is were im from its in abilene texas if anyone wants to see it
March 16th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
The spide is poddibly a little bit too much for me, and the disturbing one! Why is the lady giving birth not got a head??? And the vomiting sculpture hoe very English could almost be me…
March 14th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
In regards to number 12, I think that art as such doesn’t reqire a purpose or point! And also, I’m certain that the piece was made with that effect in mind, it was in all probability made just to cause viewers to feel disturbed and uncomfortable, as well as to prove some unspoken point or idea, which I agree I can’t fathom, but I’m sure it was there at some point.
cheers.
March 14th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
First, I’d like to thank all of the others who have commented defending the worth of the sculpture that the poster “didn’t get.”
However, I think that we’re missing the point. Regardless of its meaning, art does not require purpose. Art is its own purpose. Like it or not. Therefore, one cannot invalidate a work of art by saying it’s “ugly” and has no purpose.
Also problematic is the novelty status these artworks are given when lumped together under the title “Strange Sculptures.” The entire process of art making is strange, so I’m thinking that the post would be more properly titled “20 Sculptures that I don’t understand and probably have no business analyzing.”
Thanks.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:24 am
There is a place near Chiang Mai, Thailand, it is called the White Temple. Right in front of the temple is what is supposed to be a pool of people in Hell, well, actually only of their hands, and these sculptures are of all kind of hands, including ET, Predator, women with jewellry, a big cat, and so on.
I just thought this would be interesting to know.
Here is a picture showing some of the hands http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2005/2086168587_7f9be88d96.jpg?v=0
March 10th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Chasing one another? More like Sniffing One Another’s Butt. LOL.
March 1st, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Here’s a couple more that I saw in Prague:
http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1586006-Man_on_Upside_down_horse-Prague.jpg
I think this is referencing the famous statue of King Wenceslas on his horse.
And not your average Jesus:
http://www.michael-grant.me.uk/images/ljtrivia/prague_jesus.jpeg
February 15th, 2009 at 1:10 am
The Upside Down Church has been moved to Calgary, Alberta.
February 14th, 2009 at 3:21 am
heavy perceived
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:05 am
hello, you have credited me as the source of two of the photos but I’m pretty sure they aren’t mine.
(When you click my name it goes to a page of mine with a totally different sculpture.)
Nice collection of images though, I just don’t want to take credit for other peoples photos!
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:27 pm
“Once upon a time”, in the garden of Eden, a dog farted, and God, disgusted, asked which one was the culprit…
No dog admitting the fact, all of them were sentenced to exile on Earth, out of Paradise forever.
That’s the reason why every dog, since, tries to establish the truth, sniffing his congenere’s lower parts, in the hope of regaining access to Eden!
And a possible answer to your question about sculpture n°19, “Chasing one another” ?
Please excuse my bad English, I’m just a poor frog…
January 26th, 2009 at 3:53 am
My apologies. I just realized those links are broken. Here are better ones:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/h1_Ktkfv5evGbCYc0ZX5cg?authkey=_nUyQfWUlCg&feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iT5H4zi5A9Tty_6FGn314A?authkey=_nUyQfWUlCg&feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/a0w5EnUCkapa0cz_-nHIKg?authkey=_nUyQfWUlCg&feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wlp83yr9l6FuAdxFWmdYiA?authkey=_nUyQfWUlCg&feat=directlink
January 25th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
great collection. Keep it up.
January 18th, 2009 at 4:52 am
I haven’t seen the image in 16, but I’ve seen a similar one in the 8th Ave train station in Manhattan. There are a lot of the little guys in there. I should’ve taken more photos of them. For now, here are links to the four I took:
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k269/bfarless/NewYork2008-0015.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k269/bfarless/NewYork2008-0016.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k269/bfarless/NewYork2008-0017.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k269/bfarless/NewYork2008-0018.jpg
January 16th, 2009 at 9:16 am
N 20 = this guy’s hand is not really ugly… the reason it seems yellow is because a lot of people shake his hand and… it’s glossy and so clean !!!
January 14th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Where is Los Angelo’s CA??
January 7th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
no. 12 reminds me of a kahlo painting.
does anyone else see that?
and i don’t think that it is either disturbing or ugly.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
ALERT:
You post has been scraped without your authorization (http://curiosidadesnanet.wordpress.com/2009/01/06/estranhas-esculturas/).
This is against Wordpress Terms of Service.
If you want to you can register a complain in http://wordpress.com/report-spam/.
Best Regards
January 5th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
12 Nature = life + death
An old man dies, (person) and a new baby is born. The tree symbolizes family, society and the forest is Mother Nature (fertility). Not so disturbing from this perspective.
January 4th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Unfortunately the Oppenhein’s upside down church was removed from its location in Vancouver. Censorship?
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:02 am
You should have a pic of the huge centaur statue on the street in Paris that has artillery coming out of his ass. I have a pic somewhere. Email me and I’ll send it.