Some may think that angels does not exist while others have strong belief in angels. In many religions they are symbol of guardian or warrior. In Christianity, angles are the Holy Spirit which sculptures of them can be found in churches around the world.

I have found a perfect angel that is unforgettable. It’s a modern sculpture designed by internationally renowned sculptor Antony Gormley, named “Angel of the North”. This gigantic sculpture is located in Gateshead, United Kingdom. It is made from 200 tonnes of Corten (I think it’s some kind of steel). This sculpture stands 66 feets tall ( 20 metres) but what is so impressive is that the wing span of the angel is 175 feets ( 54 metres ) almost as big as a jumbo jet! The work of the sculpture started in July 1997 offsite and it was assembled on site seven months later in February 1998. What is also cool is that it will last for more than 100 years. The price is 800, 000 British pounds if you can afford it!

The Angel of the North aroused some controversy locally when it was finished. People were asking why an angel? The only response they received was that ‘no one has ever seen one and we need to keep imagining them’. Well whether people like it or not it is now considered by some as a landmark for North East of England. It is also one of the 12 official Icons of England. More than 90 000 visitors every day or 33 million every year…no wonder it’s the most viewed pieces of art in the world!

…continue reading the post Sculpture: Angel of the North

I came a cross this magnificent metal sculpture of a bald eagle while surfing the net. This got to be the world’s largest eagle sculpture I have ever seen. Why would someone create such an exquisite piece of art?

I think I know why…It is said that eagles are the living symbols of power, freedom and transcendence. In some religions, high-soaring eagles are believed to touch the face of God. They can teach us about patience as they will perch in a tree for hours waiting for their next meal. They are also known for their sharp vision, seeing twice as far as people. Studies suggest that some eagles can spot an animal the size of a rabbit up to two miles away. While humans typically have 200,000 light-sensitive cells per square millimeter of retina, eagles may have up to 1 million - five times more! No wonder the founders of the United States chose the bird that only resides in North America as their national symbol to symbolize the country’s freedom, strength and power.

This massive work of art is named “Power and Authority”. This piece was completed in 2006 by Kevin Stone. It brought Kevin international attention as a metal sculptor. It is 20 feet high (as high as a two-storey building!) with 32 feet wing span, and weighs an estimated 6000 lbs. It is made with the highest quality surgical stainless steel and hand-polished to a mirror finish. This piece took on a life of it’s own, with over 2000 people attending the unveiling. This piece has been sold.

You can visite the website of the sculptor at metalanimation.com which is dedicated to the magnificent works of Canadian metal sculptor, Kevin Stone . There are no reproductions of his work. Every piece is uniquely handcrafted . “My sculptures are designed to attract attention, create emotion, invite contemplation and conversation, state boldly, add beauty and style to their environment, and become a fabulous focal point. I enjoy the challenge of each clients needs, and bringing my clients visions to life. I build each piece to be enjoyed for many generations to come, and as part of my commitment and goal to enhance each community where my work is displayed, I donate 10% of the sale price of each piece to the Children’s Hospital in that community.” - Kevin

…continue reading the post Arts: World’s Largest Eagle Sculpture

One of the most well-known tourist icons of Singapore is obviously the Merlion statue. We can see this one of a kind statue with the head of a lion and the body of a fish at the Marina bay in the southern part of Singapore, since 2002. The statue measures 8.6 metres high and weighs 70 tonnes. The original Merlion statue was built by the late Singapore carfstman, Mr. Lim Nang Seng. It’s first home was by the Singapore River back in September 17, 1972.

The idea of the merlion was designed by Fraser Brunner for the Singapore Tourism Board in 1964, then it was used as a logo in 1997 and eventually became a trademark symbol of Singapore. The lion head represents the lion spotted by Prince Sang Nila Uta in 11AD, when Singapura was re-discovered. The fish tail symbolizes the ancient city of Temasek (meaning “sea”) by which Singapore was known before the Prince named it ” Singapura” (singa for “lion” and pura for “city”) in memory of the humble beginnings of a fishing village.

There are five official Merlion statues in Singapore and you can find a tallest replica (32 metres high) of the Merlion in Sentosa Island. If we had this big-size statue in my city, I guess you will find me sitting by it on a sunny day blogging away! :razz:

…continue reading the post Merlion Park: The Sea Lion Of Singapore

This steel sculpture has won the National Award of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for architectural excellence in 2007. The sculpture is set in the landscape of the Pennines overlooking Burnley, in the north west of England. It was designed by architects Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu of Tonkin Liu. This musical sculpture is called the Singing Ringing Tree because of the harmonic and singing qualities that the tree produce by tuning the pipes. It was constructed from pipes of galvanised steel, which with the help of the wind it produce a slightly discordant and penetrating choral sound covering a range of several octaves. This is just amazing. What an excellent staggering piece of iconic environmental art, as one gentlemen has commented on the video below. It will capture the imagination of everyone who sees it. The videos below will give more info about this amazing piece of art. You will also be able to hear the sound of this fabulous Sing Ringing Tree! :D

…continue reading the post Panopticons: Singing Ringing Tree

You probably know this long and thin wood cylinder object that we use as writing or drawing instrument which we called the pencil. Surprisingly, pencils can be used to create colorful sculptures taking various forms. Today, I fall in love with an artist’s work of unique and exquisite unusual fine art made with pencils. Her name is Jennifer Maestre and she uses pencils as the medium to create her sculptures. Jennifer has always been involved in some kind of creative projects in her life. In her early 30’s, she went to Mass College of Art where she majored in Glass Art. As her career progresses, Jennifer invented the art of pencil sculptures. They don’t teach such type of art in school!
…continue reading the post Jennifer Maestre: Colorful Pencil Sculptures