Is it empathy, unity, kindness or collaboration that speaks to you most when gazing upon Building Bridges? This monumental sculpture by Lorenzo Quinn stands as a testament to humanity’s shared values. Building Bridges is located in the Arsenale in the Castello District of Venice. The sculpture comprises six pairs of monumental hands. Each hand reaches to the sky. Together, the hands symbolize unity.
Lorenzo Quinn unveiled Building Bridges at the Venice Biennale. The date was May 9, 2019. Quinn is an internationally renowned Italian artist. He often depicts love and human connection in his work. Quinn uses figurative forms and human hands to express these themes.
Building Bridges stands 15 meters high and 20 meters wide. This spectacular sculpture speaks to our commonality. It emphasizes bridging differences. These differences span all aspects of life. Building Bridges bridges geographical divides. It bridges philosophical divides. The sculpture bridges cultural divides. It bridges emotional divides.
Quinn said Venice is the perfect location for this sculpture. Venice is a World Heritage City. It is known as the city of bridges. Quinn wanted to spread a message of world unity and peace. He hoped to inspire people to build bridges instead of walls.
Each pair of hands in Building Bridges represents a universal human value. One pair celebrates friendship. Friendship builds the future. Another pair represents wisdom. Wisdom helps us make mutually beneficial decisions. Help is also represented. Help cements lasting relationships. Faith signifies trust in your heart and self-worth. Hope encourages perseverance. Love represents the fundamental purpose of it all.
Quinn is no stranger to Venice. In 2017, he created Support. This sculpture featured colossal hands reaching out of the Grand Canal. Support drew global attention. It highlighted the delicate balance between humanity’s capacity to destroy and to save the world. Climate change was the looming threat.
Quinn was born in Rome. He spent his childhood between the United States and Italy. He fell in love with painting and architecture in Italy. He studied at the American Academy of Fine Arts in New York. Soon after, he dedicated himself to sculpture. He mastered the art of sculpting hands. Quinn now lives in Spain. He works from his foundry in Barcelona. There, he creates both intimate pieces and monumental sculptures. His art can be seen around the world.
Building Bridges is Quinn’s most ambitious project. It expresses human aspiration. The sculpture symbolizes our commonality. Venice is a city of connections. It is a hub of artistic exchange. Venice is the ideal place to spread a message of unity. Building Bridges connects societies and individuals. It builds bridges and not walls.
So as you stand before Building Bridges remember its message. Consider the values it represents. Think about how you can build bridges in your own life. Let this sculpture inspire you to connect with others. Value what unites us.