Cleveland, Ohio is home to many monuments that are inherently linked to the identity of the city, and the “Free Stamp” has become similarly tied to the region. The massive, nearly 50-foot red stamp with the word “free” printed on the bottom has a history that is directly related to some other notable monuments and […]
Category: Sculpture
La Jornada and Numbe Whageh Form the Cuarto Centenario Memorial to Represent the Past and Present of Albuquerque
Composed of two distinct monuments, the Cuarto Centenario Memorial in Albuquerque, New Mexico was created to commemorate the 400th anniversary of New Mexico’s founding. However, the process around selecting who and what the memorial would depict became contentious, and the final piece powerfully represents how monuments can represent the past and present of an entire […]
Manneken Pis Becomes the Icon of Brussels
Brussels, Belgium has become known for everything from chocolate to structures like the Grand Place and Atomium that have come to define the landscape. No matter how famous such things become though, none of them can match the notoriety of Manneken Pis (meaning “peeing boy” in Dutch) since it has become the unofficial icon of […]
Monumentous World – The Obscure and Outstanding Monuments in Bratislava, Slovakia
Bratislava features notable monuments like Michael’s Gate as well as the Slavín Memorial Complex, both of which celebrate very different aspects of the history of the city. The capital of Slovakia has a rich history that can be seen throughout these monuments but can also be experienced in a variety of sculptures and other landmarks […]
Shoes on The Danube Serve as a Subtle but Potent Memorial to the Thousands Executed in Budapest
Monuments and memorials that celebrate the memories and sacrifices of individuals and entire groups come in all shapes and sizes, but few are as subtle yet powerful as the Shoes on the Danube memorial in Budapest, Hungary. The sixty pairs of period-appropriate shoes made out of iron are spread across a small section of the […]
The Saints and Scenes on the Charles Bridge Create a Monument for Prague
Bridges of all types and sizes have been turned into functional monuments that do everything from allow visitors to get an incredible view of the city to figuratively transport them into a different era and location. The appeal of the Charles Bridge in the Czech Republic is related to both of those things but has […]
How the People’s Friendship Arch and the Motherland Monument Could Help Define Decommunization in Ukraine
Monuments in Kyiv range from pieces that celebrate the national hero and founder of Ukraine to ones that honor and remember events that have helped shape the identity of the country. A variety of monuments that are obscure and outstanding are spread throughout the city, and they’ve proven to serve as powerful economic and social […]