Physical Energy

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“Physical Energy” by George Frederic Watts, 1907
Lancaster Walk, Kensington Gardens
London, September 2014

“In his final years, George Frederic Watts turned his hand to creating sculptures. His most famous sculpture is the large-sized bronze statue named Physical Energy that was created in 1902. The statue depicts a naked horseman shading his eyes as he looked into the sun. Watts' intention was to dedicate the piece to Genghis Khan, Muhammad, Attila and Tamerlane – figures that Watts thought epitomized raw willpower.” (George Frederic Watts, Totally History)

Curriculum Vitae

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“Curriculum Vitae” by Susanne Kunjappu-Jellinek
East Side Gallery
Mühlenstraße, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Berlin, September 2011

“It soon became clear that no one among the East German authorities would take personal responsibility for issuing orders to use lethal force, so the vastly outnumbered soldiers had no way to hold back the huge crowd of East German citizens. Finally, at 10:45 pm, Harald Jäger, the commander of the Bornholmer Straße border crossing yielded, allowing for the guards to open the checkpoints and allowing people through with little or no identity checking. As the Ossis swarmed through, they were greeted by Wessis waiting with flowers and champagne amid wild rejoicing. Soon afterward, a crowd of West Berliners jumped on top of the wall, and were soon joined by East German youngsters. They danced together to celebrate their new freedom.” (Berlin Wall - The Fall, Wikipedia)

See also: Berlin Wall - Test the Rest - Bruderkuß - Stay Free - Without Title - Sonic Malade - Vergesst mir die Liebe nicht - Niemandsland - Many Small People

Colosse

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“Colosse” (Colossus) by Igor Mitoraj, 2001
Faubourg de l'Arche
Courbevoie, La Défense
Paris, July 2011

“Also known as ‘Colossus’, this work combines the memory of antiquity with contemporary treatment. Its proportions are ideal, but Icarus has been deliberately wounded, amputated and his head truncated. Through his work, Igor Mitoraj never ceases to express human nature and its imperfections, the human body, its beauty and fragility. Often large-scale, like Icarus in bronze, his sculptures catch the eye in public places now scattered across many cities in Europe, the United States and Japan.” (Icare, Paris La Défense)
See also: Testa Addormentata - Tindaro - Centauro - Tindaro Screpolato - Colosse - Ikaria - Bronze Doors - Le Grand Toscano

Santo Stefano

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“Santo Stefano” (Saint Stephen) by Lorenzo Ghiberti, 1428 (copy)
Orsanmichele, Via dell'Arte della Lana side
Florence, April 2014

“Lamberti's marble St. Luke, which was once in the spot now occupied by Giambologna's St. Luke, is now in the Bargello. Likewise a marble St. John The Evangelist by the school of Orcagna was replaced with a bronze by Anrea Pisano (the guilds showed their importance and wealth by using bronze instead of gold, which was much more expensive) and is now in the Spedale Innocenti. And lastly, the original marble St. Stephen, again by Pisano, was replaced with a bronze version by Ghiberti. Pisano's St. Stephen can be seen at the Opera Duomo. ” (Sculptures of Orsanmichele, Orsanmichele)

See also: Christ and St. Thomas - San Luca - Madonna delle Grazie Altar - San Matteo

Cleopatra's Needle

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Cleopatra's Needle
Victoria Embankment
London, September 2014

“On erection of the obelisk in 1878 a time capsule was concealed in the front part of the pedestal, it contained : A set of 12 photographs of the best looking English women of the day, a box of hairpins, a box of cigars, several tobacco pipes, a set of imperial weights, a baby's bottle, some children's toys, a shilling razor, a hydraulic jack and some samples of the cable used in erection, a 3' bronze model of the monument, a complete set of British coins, a rupee, a portrait of Queen Victoria, a written history of the strange tale of the transport of the monument, plans on vellum, a translation of the inscriptions, copies of the bible in several languages, a copy of John 3:16 in 215 languages, a copy of Whitaker's Almanack, a Bradshaw Railway Guide, a map of London and copies of 10 daily newspapers.” (The London needle, Wikipedia)

Khachkar

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A khachkar, also known as Armenian cross-stone, 2007
In memory of the Medz Yeghern (Armenian Genocide)
Salita di San Nicola da Tolentino
Rome, April 2013

“The most common khachkar feature is a cross surmounting a rosette or a solar disc. The remainder of the stone face is typically filled with elaborate patterns of leaves, grapes, pomegranates, and bands of interlace. Occasionally a khachkar is surmounted by a cornice sometimes containing biblical or saintly figures.” (Khachkar, Wikipedia)

Paris-Plages 2014

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Temporary artificial beaches for Paris-Plages
Between Pont au Change and Pont Notre-Dame
4th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

“For one month every summer, the Georges Pompidou Expressway along Paris’s Right Bank transforms into a pedestrian refuge replete with a sandy beach. A dazzling array of attractions vie for your attention, from activities like dance lessons, climbing walls, games, and swimming (in floating pools, not the Seine, thankfully), to amenities like beach chairs, cafes, misting fountains, and shady palm trees. Its enormous popularity can be traced to strong management and innovative programming, which keep the place humming well into the night with shows and performances.” (Paris Plage, Project for Public Spaces)