Latest news with #MarcoCochrane
NDTV
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
45-Foot-Tall Statue Of Naked Woman Sparks Uproar In San Francisco, Locals Call It "Obscene"
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. A 45-foot-tall nude statue, titled R-Evolution, sparks controversy. The sculpture aims to celebrate female empowerment and challenge norms. Installed in Civic Centre Plaza, it lacked public input before placement. In the heart of San Francisco, a city long celebrated for its progressive ethos and vibrant arts scene, a new controversy has erupted over a towering 45-foot-tall statue of a naked woman, titled R-Evolution. The 32,000-pound sculpture, installed in a bustling public plaza, has ignited debate, with some internet users decrying it as "obscene" and others defending it as a bold artistic statement. As per the Sun, R-Evolution, a massive steel sculpture depicting a nude female figure with outstretched arms, was first unveiled at the 2015 Burning Man festival. Created by artist Marco Cochrane, the statue was intended to celebrate female empowerment and vulnerability, challenging societal norms around the human body. After plans to install it in New York's Union Square fell through due to its weight, the sculpture found a home in San Francisco's Civic Centre Plaza, a prominent public space near City Hall. San Francisco unveiled their 45-foot statue of a nude woman Thursday at Embarcadero Plaza to attract tourism. The piece is titled 'R-Evolution.' SF continues to be plagued by crime, homeless, and illegals. The city would have many more tourists if these issues were addressed. — Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) April 13, 2025 The installation, reportedly placed without public input, has rekindled discussions about art and public space. The artist and supporters argue that R-Evolution embodies San Francisco's spirit of openness and inclusivity. "The installation is meant to reflect the city's ethos of bringing people together, activating public space, and reinforcing the power of art to spark conversation," a spokesperson for the project stated. Art advocates, including members of San Francisco's arts community, have praised the sculpture for challenging societal taboos around nudity and femininity. "Art is supposed to provoke, to make us uncomfortable, to make us think. This statue does exactly that—it forces us to confront our biases about the human body and public space," said a local curator. However, the statue has drawn sharp criticism from some San Franciscans, who argue that its explicit nudity is inappropriate for a family-friendly public space. "Somebody put up a 45-foot naked lady statue in San Francisco, nobody asked for it," one X user wrote. Another user quipped, "I'd rather have another $1.7 million public restroom. Y'know, something more practical." A third said, "This isn't about art; it's about forcing a statement on people who didn't sign up for it." Others have pointed to the lack of public consultation as a point of contention, with questions raised about how such a large and provocative installation was approved without broader input. As the debate rages on, city officials have promised to hold public forums to address concerns and discuss the statue's future.
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
San Francisco's 45-Foot Statue Of A Naked Woman Triggers Social Media Storm
Last Updated: The statue was installed last month with hopes it will attract more visitors and help boost economic activity in the city. San Francisco's Embarcadero Plaza is home to a new, eye-catching figure – a 45-foot tall statue of a naked woman. Named R-Evolution, this steel sculpture weighs 15,000 kg and shines with multicoloured lights. Created by artist Marco Cochrane, it is the final piece in his 'The Bliss Project' series, which debuted at the Burning Man festival in 2015. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, together with The Sijbrandij Foundation and Building 180, installed the statue last month hoping it will attract more visitors and help boost economic activity in the city. Social media platforms have been buzzing with opinions. A user wrote on X, formerly Twitter, 'San Francisco unveiled their 45-foot statue of a nude woman Thursday at Embarcadero Plaza to attract tourism. The piece is titled 'R-Evolution.' SF continues to be plagued by crime, homeless and illegals. The city would have many more tourists if these issues were addressed." San Francisco unveiled their 45-foot statue of a nude woman Thursday at Embarcadero Plaza to attract tourism. The piece is titled 'R-Evolution."SF continues to be plagued by crime, homeless, and illegals. The city would have many more tourists if these issues were addressed. — Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) April 13, 2025 Another wrote, 'Public art is a waste of money." Public art is a waste of money.— Jakob Mi (@Jakob_Mi_) April 13, 2025 'This is not the way to attract more tourists," a comment read. Someone said, 'This is weird." 'And the point of that statue is what??" a user asked. The Recreation and Park Department defends the installation as gender representation in public art. According to their press release, 'Despite making up more than half the population, women are vastly underrepresented in public art, comprising only 8% of statues in the US. This sculpture challenges that imbalance, creating a powerful moment of visibility and reflection." R-Evolution is an impressive piece of art. Made with more than 55,000 steel welds, the statue moves slightly for one hour each day to look like it is breathing. At night, it lights up softly with colourful lights, turning Embarcadero Plaza into a beautiful spot to visit after dark. The artist Marco Cochrane explains his vision behind the sculpture: 'This sculpture is about being seen. Women's presence in public art is rare. When they are depicted, it is often through outdated or passive narratives. R-Evolution challenges that. She stands strong, aware and grounded, calling for a world where all people can walk freely and without fear." Cochrane's work focuses on empowering female figures in a way that breaks away from traditional portrayals. 'The Bliss Project' series, ending with R-Evolution, shows women not as passive objects but as powerful, self-aware beings. First Published:
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
45-foot statue of naked woman in San Francisco divides opinion: ‘Nobody asked for it'
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department hopes that a giant statue of a naked woman – erected in Embarcadero Plaza – will boost footfall and enhance economic activity in the city. But not everyone's happy about it. According to a report in The Sun, several locals have taken to social media to register their protest against the 45-foot statue of a naked woman that went up last month in San Francisco, California. The sculpture, named R-Evolution, is made of steel, illuminated with multicoloured lights, and weighs a whopping 15,000 kg. It is the third and final sculpture in Marco Cochrane's series, The Bliss Project, originally created for and debuted at the Burning Man festival in 2015. The 45-foot statue has been displayed in San Francisco through a collaboration between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, The Sijbrandij Foundation and Building 180. According to a press release from the department, 'despite making up more than half the population, women are vastly underrepresented in public art, comprising only 8% of statues in the US. This sculpture challenges that imbalance, creating a powerful moment of visibility and reflection.' "This sculpture is about being seen," says artist Marco Cochrane. "Women's presence in public art is rare. When they are depicted, it is often through outdated or passive narratives. 'R-Evolution challenges that. She stands strong, aware, and grounded—calling for a world where all people can walk freely and without fear." The 45-foot sculpture greeting ferry visitors in San Francisco has divided opinion. Some locals say they were blindsided when the statue first appeared, others have called it obscene. 'Somebody put up a 45' naked lady statue in San Francisco, nobody asked for it. Now you have to walk between her legs to get from the Ferry building to the Embarcadero,' wrote one X user. 'They seem like they are focused on absolutely everything except the things that matter,' another said. 'A giant, naked woman blocking the proud, iconic Ferry Building is a perfect metaphor for San Francisco these days,' said Republican John Dennis.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Uproar over 'obscene' 50ft statue towering over San Francisco's skyline that 'nobody asked for'
A towering 45-foot-tall statue of a naked woman has sparked uproar in San Francisco after it was unveiled along the city's iconic Embarcadero. The sculpture, titled R-EVOLUTION, is the work of California artist Marco Cochrane and was first unveiled at Burning Man in 2015. The statue - weighing a staggering 32,000 pounds - was too heavy to be installed in New York's Union Square earlier this year, where it was initially headed. Instead, it has now found a temporary home in Embarcadero Plaza. But its latest appearance - standing completely nude in a major public plaza - has ignited fierce backlash online and in the city. Critics have blasted the piece of artwork as 'obscene' and saying 'nobody asked for it.' 'Somebody put up a 45' naked lady statue in San Francisco, nobody asked for it,' one X user fumed. 'Now you have to walk between her legs to get from the Ferry Building to the Embarcadero.' The statue has her arms outstretched, her eyes closed, and her bare body towering over pedestrians just steps from the bay. The display - which began Thursday, April 10 - is expected to remain in place through October. After that, organizers say it may be leased or sold. From 5-6pm everyday, the statue 'breathes' as built-in electronics cause her chest to slowly rise and fall in a show. But many residents have slammed the statue. 'Who funded this dumb ass s**t?' one commenter asked on X, as photos and videos of the sculpture circulated widely. Others complained the statue was installed without any public input. It was a move permitted because the project was privately funded. 'R-EVOLUTION is public art only in the most literal sense: It exists in public space,' local NPR station KQED wrote. 'The public - as in, the people - had nothing to do with it.' Despite being labeled a message of 'feminine liberation,' the 47-foot sculpture wasn't even made by a woman. Cochrane, 63, has said the piece is meant to inspire a 'shift in perspective' around gender and power. The display - which began Thursday, April 10 - is expected to remain in place through October But not everyone is against the eye-popping artwork. 'I'm impressed by the musculature, the accuracy,' retired physician Daniel Murphy, who came to see the piece in person, told Courthouse News. 'There's just a lot of anatomical detail that is more accurate than I would have expected.'
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
45-foot tall nude woman statue erected in San Francisco plaza for ‘one-of-a kind liquid light show'
A towering 45-foot statue of a naked woman will be officially unveiled on Thursday in San Francisco. The work, 'R-Evolution,' is meant to symbolize female empowerment and strength, and will stand for six months in front of the city's Ferry Building. "This sculpture is about being seen," artist Marco Cochrane said in a March interview with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks agency. "Women's presence in public art is rare. When they are depicted, it is often through outdated or passive narratives. R-Evolution challenges that. She stands strong, aware, and grounded—calling for a world where all people can walk freely and without fear." The project, which reportedly weighs around 32,000 pounds, is comprised of steel rod and tubing arranged in geodesic triangles, joined by 55,000 individual welds. 'R-Evolution,' which has previously appeared in Las Vegas, Petaluma, and at the Burning Man festival, appears to breathe for one hour a day and glows at night. To further amp up the theatrics for the statue's unveiling, a Thursday launch event will feature what organizers say is a 'one-of-a-kind liquid light show,' from Mad Alchemy, a group that does psychedelic light projections at art and music events. The statue has had a long journey to get to the San Francisco waterfront. An attempt to display it at the National Mall was scuttled when city officials revoked permits over concerns that the statue might damage the turf beneath it, according to SFGate. Similar concerns stopped a plan to feature the statue in San Francisco's Union Square earlier this year. The installation in front of the Ferry Building is a collaboration between the artist, the Building 180 creative agency, the Sijbrandij Foundation, and Illuminate, a public arts group known for supporting projects like the famous 'Bay Lights' installation on the Bay Bridge.
