For the love of art

Art evokes a feeling of wonder, imagination, and curiosity that nothing can else can bring out. Around the world, there are many artworks, installations, and sculptures that people travel long distances to see and photograph. Here is a compilation of a few of the most iconic and thought-provoking sculptures around the world — that should be on your bucket list.

Cloud Gate Created by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor, Cloud Gate has become one of the most iconic public art sculptures of modern times. Up for viewing and interaction at the AT&T Plaza in Chicago, Illinois, it is made of 168 stainless steel plates that were welded together to create a bean-like structure. It is much photographed by tourists because it distorts the shapes of the viewers, and the skyline, in different ways. It is inspired by liquid mercury, and can be walked around, and under.

The Kelpies, Scotland Inaugurated in 2014, The Kelpies are a pair of 30-metre tall horse heads made by sculptor Andy Scott. They form the entrance to the Forth and Clyde canal and its new extension. The installation is meant to connect 16 communities and is an ode to the heritage of Scotland, which was predominantly horse-powered. The horses have been named after transforming mythological beasts that had the power of ten horses. Andy Scott was inspired by the name to lean more towards the history of Scotland and hence made these beautiful steel horses.

Maman, London Created by artist Louise Bourgeois, this spider sculpture made of stainless steel, marble and bronze, is one of the largest in the world at 30 feet tall. Maman is the French word for mother and is inspired by Louis’ mother’s strength and her ability to nurture, spin, weave, and protect. The sculpture was created in 1999 and can be seen at Tate Modern in London. This glorious and looming installation may seem a little scary, but the ode to her mother puts the artist’s monument in a different light.

Nelson Mandela sculpture, South Africa Nelson Mandela’s capture site has now become a beautiful homage to the revolutionary and anti-apartheid activist. Artist Marco Cianfanelli created this sculpture using fifty steel poles, either to ten metres in height. This somehow has been used to create an illusion of a flat image of Nelson Mandela’s face. The 50 laser-cut poles represent the 50 years since the capture of the icon. It also represents the idea of many making a whole. This sculpture was inaugurated outside Howick by President Jacob Zuma in 2012.

Hippo Square, Taiwan The Taipei Zoo in Taiwan is the ideal spot for these submerged hippo sculptures that sometimes shock passers-by. Now named Hippo Square, these realistic sculptures are one of the most photographed sculptures, and are unique. The former zoo director, Chen Pao-Chung, was the one to green light this project and add to Taiwan’s growing art scene. It is now the facility’s most popular non-living attraction and brings in people from around the world.

Shoes on the Danube Bank, Hungary This war memorial located in Budapest may just be one of the most thought provoking installations in the world. Director Can Togay, along with sculptor Gyula Pauer, came up with this idea to honour Jews who were killed during World War II. Sixty period-appropriate shoes made of iron were attached to the bank along with signs that read, “To the memory of the victims shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen in 1944-45. Erected 16 April 2005.” This sculpture is truly worth seeing.