5 unusual sculptures around the world that tourists can’t stop photographing

Public art sculptures can be an expression of a society's creativity, humor, and imagination. While public art sculptures can be a tribute to a country's history and its great leaders and events, some artists have opted to create such unique and quirky sculptures that they become instant global attractions. Be it a giant spider or a giant hand rising out of the desert sands, these sculptures are a curiosity that beckons travelers to visit and experience these sculptures firsthand. From the enigma of the Moai sculptures to modern artistic marvels such as Cloud Gate, these sculptures prove that art can be confusing and interesting at the same time. Their unusual designs and dramatic settings make them unforgettable landmarks that attract curious travellers from around the world.
Here are five of the most unusual sculptures from around the world that have captured tourists’ attention.

Standing 30 metres tall, The Kelpies are two colossal horse-head sculptures that dominate the landscape at The Helix in Falkirk. The statues, designed by sculptor Andy Scott, celebrate Scotland's industrial past and the powerful working horses that once hauled canal barges. The shiny steel statues can be seen from far away because of their massive size, especially when lit up at night. Today, they are among Scotland’s most photographed modern landmarks.

Cloud Gate is one of the most iconic modern sculptures in the world, located in the Millennium Park in Chicago, USA. The sculpture is designed by Anish Kapoor, a renowned artist, and is made of stainless steel. It has been named ‘The Bean’ because of its shape. The sculpture has a reflective surface that creates the illusion of different images depending on the position of the viewer. The tourists like to walk under the arch of the sculpture to see the multiple images of themselves in the reflective surface of the sculpture. The sculpture is unusual not just because of its futuristic look but also because it has turned the cityscape around it into a part of the sculpture.

The most mysterious sculptures in the world can be found on Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Chile. The island has a number of volcanic formations where the Rapa Nui people have installed the Moai statues between the 13th and 16th centuries. There are nearly 1,000 statues, many of which weigh several tons and stand several metres tall. What makes them truly unusual is their appearance, large heads, elongated noses, deep-set eyes, and solemn expressions. Some sites, such as Ahu Tongariki, feature rows of restored Moai that have become one of the most photographed sights in the Pacific.

Rising dramatically from the sands of the Atacama Desert is a giant sculpture of a human hand emerging from the ground. Known as Mano del Desierto (Hand of the Desert), the artwork was created by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal. Located near Antofagasta, the sculpture stands about 11 metres tall and appears as though a gigantic person is buried beneath the desert sand. The stark contrast between the lonely desert landscape and the massive concrete hand creates an eerie and unforgettable sight.

One of the most striking sculptures that a visitor is likely to come across outside the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is the gigantic spider, known as Maman, created by the famous French artist Louise Bourgeois. The sculpture is over 30 feet tall and towers over the viewer with its long and spindly legs, although it has a slightly intimidating appearance, the artwork is supposed to symbolize the artist’s mother, who was a weaver and a spider. Its unusual design and sheer scale make it one of the most photographed sculptures in Bilbao.