Image
Zhang Huan, China

In front of City Hall
(1 of 7) (16955 views)

./Zhang_Huan_20100512_132602_4569BCX.jpg

The gigantic 26-foot tall (7.8 meters high) sculpture weighed a whopping 15 tons (13.6 tonnes). This is a new sculpture, first premiered here.


"Three Heads, 6 Arms"   •  Artist Zhang Huan external link of China   •  Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 13:26:02 Wednesday 12 May 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #132602_4569BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

Six Arms
(2 of 7) (9381 views)

./Zhang_Huan_20100512_132650_4571BCX.jpg

The six arms each have a bracelet on the wrist and the upper arm near the shoulder. The upper arm bracelets were the attachment points where each arm was mounted to the body.


"Three Heads, 6 Arms"   •  Artist Zhang Huan external link of China   •  Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 13:26:50 Wednesday 12 May 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #132650_4571BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

Hands held flowers
(3 of 7) (9316 views)

./Zhang_Huan_20100512_132720_4573BCX.jpg

All but one of the six hands each held a metal representation of a lotus flower external link. Perhaps the hand without the flower represents Mahakashyapa.


"Three Heads, 6 Arms"   •  Artist Zhang Huan external link of China   •  Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 13:27:20 Wednesday 12 May 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #132720_4573BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

Detail of the body
(4 of 7) (9284 views)

./Zhang_Huan_20100512_132748_4576BCX.jpg

The body was one of three points that supported the entire sculpture. The location of the sculpture in the plaza was limited to this one place because the statue was so heavy and the plaza over a parking garage was not strong enough except here.


"Three Heads, 6 Arms"   •  Artist Zhang Huan external link of China   •  Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 13:27:48 Wednesday 12 May 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #132748_4576BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

Three heads
(5 of 7) (9350 views)

./Zhang_Huan_20100512_132756_4577BCX.jpg

The three heads and three arms on a single body represent the concept of Trikaya in Buddhist teachings. The doctrine says that Buddha has three kaya or bodies that individually represent: time and space; bliss or clear light; and enlightenment.


"Three Heads, 6 Arms"   •  Artist Zhang Huan external link of China   •  Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 13:27:56 Wednesday 12 May 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #132756_4577BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

Not religious
(6 of 7) (9427 views)

./Zhang_Huan_20100512_132830_4579BCX.jpg

Although the sculpture was inspired by the many artifacts of Buddhist beliefs, the sculpture itself was meant to represent merely harmony. This sculpture was made of copper, the same material often used for fabricating Buddhist sculpture in Tibet and India.


"Three Heads, 6 Arms"   •  Artist Zhang Huan external link of China   •  Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 13:28:30 Wednesday 12 May 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #132830_4579BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

No signs
(7 of 7) (9333 views)

./Zhang_Huan_20100512_132846_4580BCX.jpg

This photo was taken the afternoon following the morning that the sculpture was dedicated. Yet there was no sign anywhere which identified it or its artist. A 2x4 wooden frame nailed to the concrete formed a box around the sculpture, but that was all.


"Three Heads, 6 Arms"   •  Artist Zhang Huan external link of China   •  Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)   •  (Photo taken 13:28:46 Wednesday 12 May 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #132846_4580BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake


Subscribe to our mailing list for a Sunday summary of the week's stories.
* indicates required
Email Format
home contact topic guide top 25 photos video writing blogs upload terms privacy