Giant Hands Around The World - Major Additions

The "Giant Hands Around The World" Collection was last updated on Dec. 8, 2018 and many more hands have been found since the last update. These newly found hands are listed below;
  1. Golden Fist Crushing A US Fighter Plane, Misurata, Libya
  2. Victory Sign, Almquaobh Misurata, Libya
  3. Red Hand in Desert Tifariti, Western Sahara, Morocco**
  4. Hand Memorial To Loskop Dam Builders Groblersdal, Mpumalanga, South Africa
  5. Right Hand of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, Vagharshapat, Armenia
  6. Big Red Hands, Shilipu, Chaoyang, Beijing, China
  7. Giant Hand at Nanshan Temple, Sanya, Hainan, China
  8. Hand Holding Picture Frame, Weihai Park, Weihai, Shandong, China
  9. Giant Hands, Tsereteli Modern Art Gallery Tbilisi, Georgia
  10. Butterflies on A Giant Hand, Arogya Van, Kevadia, Gujarat, India
  11. Unity With Nature, Arogya Van, Kevadia, Gujarat, India
  12. Protective Hands, LIC Building Lucknow, India
  13. Lorenzo Quinn Sculptures at One Indiabulls Centre, Mumbai, India
  14. Hand With Raised Forefinger, Jagannath Temple, Koraput, Odisha, India
  15. Two Giant Hands, Caldera Hotel & Restaurant, Kintamani, Bali, Indonesia
  16. Giant Hands of Wisnu, Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park (GWK), Ungasan, Badung, Bali, Indonesia
  17. Hand Shake, Kiara Artha Park Bandung, Indonesia
  18. Hand With V-Sign, Road from Ende to Bajawa Flores, Indonesia
  19. Red hands Valentine, Park Peyvand Tabrez, Iran
  20. Crossed Swords, Crossed Swords, Grand Festivities Square and Parade Ground, Baghdad, Iraq
  21. Hand Holding Ball Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan
  22. Viewing Platform, Sirao Pictorial Garden & Camping Site, Cebu, Philippines
  23. Finger Pointing Upwards Changi Coastal End Singapore
  24. Giant Hand Holding Exercise Bars Holland Village Singapore
  25. Reader Monument Holland Village Singapore
  26. Green Hand, Love Land, Jeju Island, South Korea
  27. Large Hands at Magic Stone Fruits Na Mueang, Ko Samui Island, Thailand
  28. White Folded Hands, Loei, Thailand
  29. Hands at The Martyr's Memorial Hall, Mae Salong (Now Santikhiri) Mae Fa Luang, Thailand
  30. Beautiful Carved Buddha's Hand Mueang Kao, Sukhothai, Thailand
  31. Hand Holding Apple, Amasya, Turkey
  32. Hand Holding A Plane, Air Force Museum Ankara, Turkey
  33. Monument to the Friendship of Nations, Antakya, Turkey
  34. Haşim's Hand, Karaalioğlu Park Antalya, Turkey
  35. Hand Holding Wheat Stalk, Aslanapa, Turkey
  36. Giant Hand Holding Hazelnut, Giresun, Turkey
  37. Giant Hand Holding Meatball on Fork, İnegöl, Turkey
  38. Hand With Rosary, Oltu, Turkey
  39. Monument to Roasted Chickpeas, Tavşanlı, Anatolia, Turkey
  40. Hand with Rings Jewellery Market, Yakutiye, Turkey
  41. Lovers' Hands, Valley Of Love Da Lat, Vietnam
  42. Tall Hand, Dandabah camping area, Bunya Mountains National Park, QLD, Australia
  43. Quasi Hand, Wellington, New Zealand
  44. Gnarled Hands at Kristek House, Brno, Czech Republic*
  45. Music Conductor's Hand Holding Baton, Estonian National Opera Tallinn, Estonia
  46. Bouquet of Tulips by Jeff Koons, Paris, France
  47. The Thinking Hand, Frankfurt, Germany
  48. Adam's Hand Rauschberg, Upper Bavaria, Germany
  49. Hand and Leg (Just Married), Helmond, Holland
  50. Hand and Foot in Embrace, Singer Museum Laren, Holland
  51. Three Hands, Margraten, Holland
  52. Hands at Birreria La Quadra - Pizzeria Al Faro,, Via Lido Po Guastalla, Italy
  53. White Hand, Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy
  54. Stop Playing by Lorenzo Quinn Forte Marghera, Venice, Italy
  55. Building Bridges by Lorenzo Quinn, Venice, Italy
  56. This is not a game by Lorenzo Quinn, Venice, Italy
  57. The Awakening, Viterbo, Italy
  58. Shackled Hands With Victory Sign, Belmontas Park Vilnius, Lithuania
  59. Memorial to the Fallen Soldiers of Lješanska Nahija Region, Podgorica, Montenegro
  60. The "Middle Way" (2017), Cascais, Portugal
  61. The "Middle Way" (2018), Porto, Portugal
  62. Friendship Monument Birobidzhan, Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Russia
  63. White Hand Made of Wire, Kazan, Russia
  64. Golden Hand Holding Coal, Kemerovo, Russia
  65. Hand Holding Globe, Khabarovsk, Russia
  66. Hand Holding Tomato, Minusinsk, Russia
  67. Three Red Hands, LOFTEC Apartments, Basmanny District, Moscow, Russia
  68. Monument to Family, Love and Loyalty Mytishchi, Moscow, Russia
  69. Hands at Burganov's House Museum, Moscow, Russia
  70. Green Hands Valentine, Cape Love, Novorossiysk, Russia
  71. Breakthrough Memorial Tatsinskaya, Rostov, Russia
  72. Monument to Music Conductor, Finestrat, Spain
  73. Hands at Quinn Creations, Gavà, Spain
  74. Giant Hands at Peru-Harri Stone Park-Museum, Leitza, Spain
  75. Hand Shaped Way Marker to Peru-Harri, Stone Park-Museum, Leitza, Spain
  76. Memorial to Comuneros de Castilla, Palencia, Spain
  77. Hands Supporting Globe, Ariana Park, Palais des Nations Geneva, Switzerland
  78. Hand of a River God, Bristol Marina Bristol, UK
  79. The "Middle Way" (2014), Liverpool, UK
  80. Helping Hands, Three Mills Green London, UK
  81. The Blue "Middle Way" (2018), Kiev, Ukraine
  82. Hand Holding A Leaf, Belize City, Belize
  83. Hand Pointing a Gun to Raised Hands, Merliot, El Salvador
  84. Rise Up, National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Montgomery, AL, USA
  85. Michelangelo's "Arm of God" Sundial Felicity, CA, USA
  86. Hand Shaped Bike Stand Loveland, CO, USA
  87. Victory and Peace Sign Alexis, IL, USA
  88. Helping Hands, Chicago Women's Park and Gardens, Chicago, IL, USA
  89. Giant Hand with Painted Nails Pana, IL, USA
  90. Star Trek Vulcan Greeting Peru, IL, USA
  91. Smoking Hand Letterbox Holland, MI, USA
  92. Giant Hands at Fox Cave, Ruidoso Downs, Glencoe, NM, USA
  93. Giant Hand of "Unity" Brooklyn, NY, USA
  94. Serve and Protect Salt Lake City, UT, USA
  95. Giant Nailed Hand of Christ, Logan, Spokane, WA, USA
  96. Monument to Charango, Aiquile, Bolivia
  97. Monument to Nossa Senhora Aparecida, Cascavel Cathedral Cascavel, Brazil
  98. Big Hand, Chile Chico, Chile
  99. Yellow Hand, Villavicencio, Colombia*
  100. Monument to Hospitality, Guayaquileña, Equador
Till date (July 31, 2020) hands at more than 340 locations around the world have been found and these will be ultimately merged in the original collection to make one Giant List of Giant Hands Around the World.

Social media specially Pinterest is full of pictures of Giant Hands but unfortunately most of these posts are just copy-paste work without any information about the location of the hands. I along with some of my friends in Google Earth Community Forums (See credits at the end) have endeavoured to find location of each of the hand included here and wherever possible I have also given some information about the hands.

Hands whose locations couldn't be ascertained have not been included in this collection. The collection will be expanded as and when I find more such hands. My readers can also help me in finding new ones.

Given below are brief details of newly added hands along with images and location;

Golden Fist Crushing A US Fighter Plane, Misurata, Libya
This golden fist was originally installed at the Bab al-Azizia, the main base for the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Commissioned on the orders of Gaddafi, it was designed to symbolize the downing of an F-111 by Libyan anti-air units in the 1986 bombing. After fall of Tripoli during the Libyan Civil War, it was moved to Misurata, which was heavily damaged during Libyan Civil War of 2011. It is now located at the War Museum on the Tripoli Street, where the most intense fighting between the Gaddafi loyalist forces and the rebels was recorded and now serves a symbol of the city’s central role in the Civil War.

Image from Google Maps is by Libya Bladena

Google Maps (Location based on the photo found in the Google Earth at coordinates 32.366661, 15.080418)

Source: Wikipedia

Victory Sign, Almquaobh, Misurata, Libya

Image from Flickr is by abduallah fakroon

Likely Google Maps location based on above Flickr image

Red Hand in Desert, Tifariti, Western Sahara, Morocco
An artwork by Spanish artist,Guillermo Roiz, it is titled "Shadow of the Gnomón" (Gnomón is the part of a sundial that casts a shadow).

Created in December 2008, artwork consists of 2.2 metres high hand and two, 8 Metres diameter circles. The hand is placed in such a way that its shadow moves from one circle to another from dawn to sunset.


Permission to use image awaited.

Image source: Google Earth



Hand Memorial To Loskop Dam Builders, South Africa
A hand shaped monument to the workers who worked on the construction of the Loskop Dam, near Groblersdal, Mpumalanga, South Africa. The plaque on the stone base of the hand, translated in English reads; "A nation's will and work shall see the fruit in their offspring. Tribute to all the Afrikaners whose sweat fell here." (Source: kangaboer.blogspot.com)

Image from Google Maps is by Charl Jordaan


Right Hand of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, Vagharshapat, Armenia
This tall hand installed at the entrance to the city is a monument to the Right Hand of Saint Gregory the Illuminator; one of the most revered relic of the St. Gregory.

Image from Wikimedia Commons (originally on defunct Panoramio) is by vahemart


Big Red Hands, Shilipu, Chaoyang, Beijing, China
Titled Cinnabar Palms, these two big red hands, located on each side of the road, are made of Stainless Steel and measure 8×4.5×1.6m.


Permission to use image awaited.

Google Maps / Tencent Maps Street View (Needs Flash Plugin)

Source of information: wangkaifang.com

Giant Hand at Nanshan Temple, Sanya, Hainan, China
This is second giant hand at Nanshan Temple, Sanya, Hainan, China. This one located on the left side of the approach to the tall Buddha state and shows an upright palm with wheel. The other hand is on the right side of the approach and is placed on the ground with palm facing upwards.

The thumb touching the index finger signifies the discussion and transmission of the teachings of the Buddha.

Google Street View (Photosphere) - Other hand Google Street View

Hand Holding Picture Frame, Weihai Park, Weihai, Shandong, China
Situated on Yangjia Bay, Weihai park has several sculptures, including this popular picture frame held by two giant hands.

Image from Flickr is by Mark Schweinsteiger

Image from Google Maps is by Zhou Wan


Giant Hands, Tsereteli Modern Art Gallery, Museum of Modern Art, Tbilisi, Georgia

Image from Google Maps is by János Palotás

Google Maps (Not visible in Google Maps imagery.)

Butterflies on A Giant Hand,
Located in a garden which was specifically created by planting many varieties of traditional Indian medicinal plants. The park is aptly named "Arogya Van" (English: Healthy or disease free forest/garden). This artwork is titled "Seize the Moment" and the text on the nearby board reads "Butterflies trying to find the connection between wild nature and human soul."


"Unity With Nature",
Another hand sculpture in "Arogya Van" titled "Unity With Nature". The text on the nearby board reads "Enlarged hands about to unite illustrating human unity in a frame depicting nature."


Image from Google Maps Photo is by Aalok Karnik

Protective Hands, LIC Building, Lucknow, India
A pair of hands in front of divisional office of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), country's largest insurance company. The hands represents its logo which shows a pair of hands, protecting the flame of an oil lamp.

Image from Google Maps is by Jamal Masood (myself)

Google Street View (Photosphere)

Lorenzo Quinn Sculptures at One Indiabulls Centre, Mumbai, India
One Indiabulls Centre has several hand sculptures of master sculptor Lorenzo Quinn. Few of them inside the premises and few outside. These are replicas of similar sculptures installed at several locations around the World.

Give and Take

Image from Google Maps is by Jyoti Menon

Hand of God

Image from Google Maps is by Jesho Jerish

La Dolce Vita

Image from Google Maps is by piyush chakkarwar

Finding Love

Image from Google Maps is by Sameer Gupta

Rise Through Education

Permission to use image awaited.


Hand With Raised Forefinger, Jagannath Temple, Koraput, Odisha, India
Not to be confused with the famous Jagannath temple in Puri, India, this temple in Koraput is popularly known as Shabara Shrikshetra. A giant white hand, with forefinger pointing up towards the sky, is located by the side of long stairway leading to the entrance to the temple. The raised finger means "...... that for all people there is only one god, this god is one for all, for representatives of all castes and peoples, all religions and denominations - one cast, one religion, one god for men." (Source: inditrip.net/orissa/koraput)

Image from Google Maps is by Bharat Ch Pradhan

Google Street View (Photosphere)

Two Giant Hands, Caldera Hotel & Restaurant, Kintamani, Bali, Indonesia
A very popular photo shoot spot overlooking the famous Mt. Batur Caldera and Batur Lake.

Image from Google Maps is by Arsen Razin

Google Maps (Not visible in Google Maps imagery.)

Giant Hands of Wisnu, Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park (GWK), Bali, Indonesia
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park or GWK, is a Hindu god Vishnu themed park created as a tourist attraction in Ungasan, Badung, Bali. It boasts of gigantic 122 metre tall and 64 metre wide statue of Vishnu (Indonesian Wisnu). The work on this huge statue started in 1997 then then was stopped due to financial constraints. Work was restarted in 2013 and finally completed in 2018. The body parts (Hands, Torso, head and Garuda (his bird-like vehicle mount) were constructed in stages and initially located in different parts of the park.

Image from Google Maps is by Reinhard Latzke

Above image appears to be digitally modified as the hand supports (3 per hands), are missing and hands appears to be floating in air. The supports can be seen in this picture, which due to copyright reasons cannot be shown here.

Google Maps (Not visible in Google Maps imagery, location based on image seen at coordinates -8.810097, 115.165272 in Google Earth)

Hand Shake, Kiara Artha Park, Bandung, Indonesia
Also known Asian-African Park, it was opened to public in 2019 to commemorate the Asian-African Conference (KAA) which was held in Bandung in 1955.

Image from Google Maps is by Fajar Muttaqien

Google Street View (Photosphere)


Hand With V-Sign, Road from Ende to Bajawa, Flores, Indonesia
A giant (apparently feminine) hand with V-sign on the road side. The text on the base of the hand reads Keluarga Berencana (Family Planning) and also depicts a small family of of 4.

Image Source: Google Street View

Red hands Valentine, Park Peyvand, Tabrez, Iran
A love themed park established to encourage newly weds to visit it and plant a tree as the symbol of their marriage, thereby starting their new lives in harmony with the nature.

Image Source: Google Street View (Photo Sphere) by rasool sadegy


Crossed Swords, Grand Festivities Square and Parade Ground, Baghdad, Iraq
The Victory Arch (officially Swords of Qādisīyah) and popularly called the the Crossed Swords, are two sets of triumphal arches on the road in front of the Grand Festivities Square and the parade ground in Baghdad. It was constructed to commemorate the Iran–Iraq War. These arches consists of a pair of massive outstretched hands, each holding a 43-metre-long (141 ft) sword. Reportedly Saddam's forearm was used as the model of the hands.

Image from Flickr is by US Deptt. of Defence. Posted by pingnews.com.


Source of information: Wikipedia

Hand Holding Ball, Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan
The Monument to the Birthplace of Japanese Baseball, installed in 2003, shows a hand holding the ball. It is made of bronze and is 237 cm in height.


Source of information and more information: baseball-museum.or.jp

Viewing Platforms, Sirao Pictorial Garden & Camping Site (PGCS), Cebu, Philippines
A viewing platform in the shape of a giant hand at PGCS adjacent to the Sirao Flower Garden.

Image from Google Maps is by Yungchu Huang

It seems there are two/three such platforms or may be the platform keeps changing shape/location.


Finger Pointing Upwards, Changi Coastal End, Singapore
This sculpture titled "Inscription of the Island" by local artist Lim Soo Ngee, was initially installed in front of Singapore Art Museum for Singapore Biennale 2016. Subsequently it was installed at Changi Beach park. Made of Copper alloys with patina treatment, it measures 2.5 m × 0.5 m × 0.3 m.

Image from Flickr is by Jnzl's Photos


Source of information and more information: limsoongee.weebly.com

Giant Hand Holding Exercise Bars, Holland Village, Singapore
Located in a playground near Block 4 HDB, Holland Close, Holland Village.

Image from defunct Panoramio (now available in web.archive.org & Google Earth (@ 1.308317, 103.795428) is by Kim Loon Chee

Google Maps (Not visible in Google Maps imagery.)

The Reader Monument, Holland Village, Singapore
This interesting sculpture located on Holland Ave., could be seen in Google Street View till April 2015. It has probably been removed or relocated elsewhere. Current status not known.


Permission to use image awaited.

Google Street View (April 2015)

Green Hand, Love Land, Jeju Island, South Korea

Image from Flickr is by Damara Avila

Google Street View (Photosphere)

Large Hands at Magic Stone Fruits, Na Mueang, Ko Samui Island, Thailand
As per reviews in Google Maps, Magic Stone Fruits is fruit themed park under construction. Two large hands made of concrete can be seen at its boundary wall.

Image from Google Maps is by Thomas Maly

Google Street View (Photosphere)

White Folded Hands, Loei, Thailand
Located in the public garden established to honour Queen Sirikit's 60th birthday.

Image Source: Google Street View (Photo Sphere) by Chaiyutt Khamsai

Hands at The Martyr's Memorial Hall, Mae Salong (Now Santikhiri), Mae Fa Luang, Thailand
Located about 8 km. from Chinese border, the 3rd and 5th Regiments of the 93rd Division of Kuomintang (KMT) armies took refuge here after long battle with Chinese army. They eventually settled here and helped the Thai Government in fighting the communist forces. The Memorial to Chinese Division 93 was established in the memory of the fallen.

A large golden hand holding a golden rose bud was installed in a circular pool called "Wishing Pool"

Image from Google Maps is by Peera Kobkaew

At some stage in 2018/2019 the design of hand was changed and the bud was also replaced with a golden rose in full bloom;

Image from Google Maps is by John -

Near the pool there is a bench formed by two hands. Text on the seat reads "Redeemed Seat"

Image from Flickr is by CWOT


Beautiful Carved Buddha's Hand, Sukhothai, Thailand
Image of this beautiful hand is widely available as a free image and also in other web pages but it was difficult to find its location on the Google Map. Google search revealed that the hand is at Kingdom of Father Ceramics, A. Muang, Sukhotha, Thailand, but surprisingly hand couldn't be found at the address and the map, given in their web site was also not helpful. It was ultimately found through Google Earth Community Forum, whose members have the reputation of finding the location of almost any object on the Earth.


Hand Holding Apple, Amasya, Turkey
Amasya region is famous for for producing high-quality, well-flavoured apples.

Image from Google Maps is by Emrah Damatoglu


Hand Holding A Plane, Air Force Museum, Ankara, Turkey
It looks that the hand is ready to launch the plane, the way kids launch paper planes.

Image from Google Maps is by İsmail Tura

Google Street View (Photosphere)

Monument to the Friendship of Nations, Antakya, Turkey
Two raised hands one holding a globe and other holding olives and olive branch.

Image from Google Earth @ Coordinates: 36.208195, 36.167716 is by Osman Ünlü

Google Maps (Not visible in Google Maps imagery.)

Haşim's Hand, Karaalioğlu Park, Antalya, Turkey
Installed in 1975, in memory of Haşim İşcan, a legendary governor of Antalya. It was created by Turkish artist Kuzgun Acar, who during its creation embedded his and his wife's wedding rings in the sculpture, to immortalize their love for each other. Hasim's face profile is etched the wrist of the hand.

Image from Flickr is by Onur Taner



Hand Holding Wheat Stalks, Aslanapa, Turkey

Image from Google Earth @ Coordinates: 39.214554, 29.870627 is by Osman Ünlü

Google Maps (Not visible in Google Maps imagery.)

Giant Hand Holding Hazelnut, Giresun, Turkey
Installed in April 2015, at Giresun Hazelnut Market, which is Turkey largest wholesale market of Hazelnut.

Image Source: Google Street View


Giant Hand Holding Meatball on Fork, İnegöl, Turkey
İnegöl is famous for its köfte (grilled meatballs). These are spherical as well as flat. This 7 metre high, monument to köfte was installed at the junction of Main Bursa-Eskisehir Highway (E90) with Havaalani Street. This junction was subsequently changed to clover leaf interchange and the sculpture is no longer visible in Google Maps or Google Street View. It may have been relocated elsewhere.

Image from Google Earth @ Coordinates: 40.091358, 29.492828 is by Remzi Aydin

Google Maps (Not visible in Google Maps imagery, but can be seen in Zoom Earth imagery of May 2015)

Source of information: artilsanatsal.com

Hand Holding Wheat Stalk, Karapinar, Turkey
This 4.5 metre tall, white hand holding a wheat stalk, is titled "Başak Anıtı" in Turkish, which translates into English as "Virgo Monument". As per Wikipedia; "In Egyptian mythology, the time when the Sun was in the constellation Virgo marked the beginning of the wheat harvest, thus connecting Virgo back to the wheat grain."

Permission to use image awaited.

Google Street View (Not visible in Google Maps or Street View imagery but the location can be seen in GSV)

Source of information: artilsanatsal.com

Hand With Rosary, Oltu, Turkey
Located in the square in front of the Fortress of Oltisi. Oltu is famous for its Oltu stone - black amber with dull-bright black colour gemstone, which is carved to produce jewellery, rosary beads etc.

Image from Google Maps is by Deniz şirin


Monument to Roasted Chickpeas, Tavşanlı, Anatolia, Turkey
Tavşanlı is famous for its roasted chickpeas. The sculpture has a height of 3.5 metres.

Image from Google Maps is by Mehmet Baş


Source of information: artilsanatsal.com

Hand with Rings, Jewellery Market, Yakutiye, Turkey

Image Source: Google Street View

Lovers' Hands, Valley Of Love, Da Lat, Vietnam
A hand putting a ring on the fingers of another hand. Valley of Love is picturesque, love and romance themed park. It attracts thousands of tourists specially honeymoon couples.

Google Street View (Photosphere)

Tall Hand, Dandabah camping area, Bunya Mountains National Park, QLD, Australia
A big hand with mushrooms and a creeper climbing on it.

Image from Google Maps is by Anne Hammond

Google Maps (Location based on defunct Panoramio image.)

"Quasi" Hand, Wellington, New Zealand
A strange looking hand with a face on back side (dorsal) of palm. Any similarity to the face of US president Donald Trump is coincidental. According to the artist Ronnie van Hout, Quasi is a partial self-portrait which is based on the scans of the his body parts. The sculpture created in 2016, measures 5m x 3m was originally installed on the top of the Christchurch Art Gallery building. In August 2019 it was relocated to the roof of City Gallery in Wellington.

Image from Flickr is by Bernard Spragg. NZ

Earlier location in Christchurch - Google Street View

Current location in Wellington - Google Street View (Not yet visible, but the building on which it is presently installed can be seen.). However it can be seen in this Google Street View (Photosphere).

Source of info: dailymail.co.uk

Gnarled Hands at Kristek House, Brno, Czech Republic
Two large golden, gnarled hands, projecting out from the wall corner, supporting a living tree, at the house of Lubo Kristek, Czech sculptor, painter and action artist.

Image from Google Maps is by Dana Skacelova


More information: Wikipedia

Music Conductor's Hand Holding Baton, Estonian National Opera, Tallinn, Estonia
The car parking barriers at the Estonian National Opera have an amusing and imaginative, but very appropriate shape of music conductor's hand holding a baton.

Image from Google Maps is by Daniil Chuiko


Bouquet of Tulips by Jeff Koons, Paris, France
This beautiful artwork, created by famous American artist Jeff Koons, is 11 metre high and is one of his largest sculptures. Located in the garden on the outskirts of the Petit-Palais, the sculpture is made of polychromed bronze, aluminium and stainless steel. It honours the victims of the November 2015 attacks. The bouquet consists of 11 flowers and not a dozen, with the missing 12th meant to represent the victims.

Image from Google Maps is by Emmanuelle Varron

Google Maps (Not yet visible in Google Maps or Street view.)

Source of info: Wikipedia

"The Thinking Hand", Frankfurt, Germany
Die Denkende Hand (The Thinking Hand), A copper sculpture by Georg K. Glaser on a wall on Bolongarostraße, Frankfurt.

Image from Wikimedia Commons is by Eva K.


"Adam's Hand", Rauschberg, Upper Bavaria, Germany
A sculpture by Walter Angerer the Younger.

Image from Google Maps is by Kaktus stachel

Google Street View (Photosphere)

Hand and Leg (Just Married), Helmond, Holland
Titled "Just Married" is another sculpture by the Dutch artist Pépé Grégoire and it shows a hand caressing a foot. Located on the Kerkstraat, Helmond it was installed in 2005.

Image from Wikimedia Commons is by Ronn


Hand and Foot in Embrace, Singer Museum, Laren, Holland
An artwork by local artist Pepe Gregoire, it was installed in November 2017 on the forecourt of Singer Museum.

Image from Flickr is by Olga


"Three Hands", Margraten, Holland
Yet another hands sculpture by the Dutch artist Pépé Grégoire. Installed in 1999, in front of Town Hall, it is titled "Trois Mains" (three hands) and it shows three hands resting over each other, as if making a gesture to help/support each other.

Image from Wikimedia Commons is by JanB46


Hands at Birreria La Quadra - Pizzeria Al Faro, Via Lido Po, Guastalla, Italy
The Pizzeria has four hand sculptures on its front.

Image from Google Maps is by Tanja Kielwein

Image from Google Maps is by Vince Dita

Image from Google Maps is by L. Dalai


White Hand, Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy
Located in front of Galleria Tonelli, Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy

Image Source: Google Street View (Photo Sphere) by Иван Свечин

"Stop Playing" by Lorenzo Quinn, Forte Marghera, Venice, Italy
Another big Artwork by Lorenzo Quinn in Venice, but on the main land. Titled "Stop Playing", it depicts one hand holding a catapult and the other hand stretching its rubber ready to release the spherical missile sculpted like globe. The artist wanted to convey that we should stop playing with Earth's resources and environment.

Image from Google Maps is by Manuele Badesso

Google Maps (Not visible in Google Maps imagery.)

"Building Bridges" by Lorenzo Quinn, Venice, Italy
This is one of the latest and the largest artwork by Lorenzo. It was installed in May 2019 at Calle Seconda de la Fava, Arsenal, for Venice Biennale - 2019. The huge installation which measures 25m x 15 m, is titled Building Bridges and depicts the six universal values of man: love, friendship, wisdom, help, faith and hope with six pairs of hands that make up a bridge.

As per forbes.it "Love is represented with two hands whose fingers are clasped to each other, friendship with two hands touching each other, wisdom with an older hand clutching a younger one, the help with two hands joining; faith with an adult hand that shakes that of a child; hope with two fingers intertwined fingers".

Image from Flickr is by www.gilpivert.fr

Image Source: Google Earth imagery of Sept. 2019

Google Maps (Not visible in Google Maps imagery.)

"This is not a game" by Lorenzo Quinn, Venice, Italy
Another pair of hands by artist Lorenzo Quinn. It was installed in July 2011 at San Servolo Island for Venice Biennale - 2011. The installation titled "This is not a game" shows two giant hands, a life-size T55 Russian battle tank and life-size cast 'toy' soldiers.

In words of the artist "As I watched my son play on the terrace with soldiers and a plastic tank, I realised that children are trying to emulate what they see in everyday life and that, unfortunately, images of tanks and soldiers dominate the media. The war has become frighteningly familiar. It almost leaves indifferent those who are not involved and can look at it from the comfort of their living room. I see world leaders using their armies as toys that they can maneuver and destroy with the same carelessness as a little boy. But this is not a game, these are real people and real weapons, and the result is anything but a game." Source: English translation from Ultima Voce

Image from Flickr is by Mike Yates (Photo by Nicolette Shipton)

Google Maps (Not visible in Google Maps imagery.)

At some stage after the 2011 Biennale, it was removed and as seen in the Google Street View imagery of 2013, it was lying dumped at the docks near Calle Dietro Ai Magazzini, Santa Marta. A pity that this great sculpture has been left uncared. A tragic end to this great and powerful work of art. (see images below). Current status/location unknown.

Image Source: Google Street View from water side

Image Source: Google Street View from road side

The Awakening, Viterbo, Italy
The Awakening is a famous piece of art by American artist, J. Seward Johnson and consists of five separate human body pieces, made of aluminium, buried in the ground, giving the impression that a panicked giant is trying to pull himself to the surface.

Two such artworks were already covered in this collection - one at National Harbour, Prince George's County, MD, USA and the second at Chesterfield, MO, USA.

This is another replica of Awakening installed at Parco di Valle Faul, Viterbo, Italy

Image from Flickr is by Simone Ramella


Shackled Hands With Victory Sign, Belmontas Park, Vilnius, Lithuania
No information is available about this tall pair of shackled hands with victory sign. It is probably a monument to Lithuania's struggle for independence from the Soviets.


Image from defunct Panoramio (now available in Google Maps and web.archive.org is by Bigveprik.

Google Street View shows the general location. The sculpture is not visible in the Google Street View, probably it has been moved to some other location.

Memorial to the Fallen Soldiers of Lješanska Nahija Region, Podgorica, Montenegro
Two abstract tall hands are part of the memorial at the spomenik complex in Barutana, Montenegro, which commemorates the many soldiers and civilians from the Lješanska Nahija region who lost their lives during the three major wars; the First Balkan War and the two World Wars.

Google Street View (Photosphere)

Source and more info: spomenikdatabase.org

The "Middle Way" (2017), Cascais, Portugal
This artwork Romanian artist Bogdan Rata was earlier displayed at Liverpool as part of Moving Monuments Programme of Nasui Collection & Gallery. The hand was subsequently displayed at many locations around the World but so far I have able to locate 3 more sites. These are namely, Cascais, Porto and Kiev.

Image from Google Maps is by Denis Maksimov

Google Street View (Photosphere)

The "Middle Way" (2018) by Bogdan Rata, Porto, Portugal
Created by Romanian artist Bogdan Rata, this Red Hand titled "Middle Way" was located in front of Concert Hall (Casa da Musica). It was installed to celebrate 100 years of diplomatic relations between Portugal and Romania. It was earlier displayed at Liverpool as part of Moving Monuments Programme of Nasui Collection & Gallery. The hand was subsequently displayed at many locations around the World but so far I have able to locate 3 sites. These are namely, Cascais, Porto and Kiev.

Image from Flickr is by Gail Edwin Aguiar (Permission to use the image is thankfully acknowledged.)


Friendship Monument, Birobidzhan, Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Russia
Two tall hands holding globe with rockets/sputnik encircling the globe on their trajectories. The monument built in 2002 was a gift from the twin city of Hagan, China.

Image from Google Maps is by Татьяна V

Google Street View (Photosphere)

Source of info: tourismdfo.tilda.ws

White Hand Made of Wire, Kazan, Russia
Located in green space on Victory Ave, near Athlete's Village.

Google Maps (Location based on Yandex Maps Panorama)

Golden Hand Holding Coal, Kemerovo, Russia
A tribute to the coal miners who had worked in the region for 50 years till its closure in 1997. It is installed in the premises of Secondary School # 50. The 1.5 metres high sculpture was made by local artists Ekaterina Spiger and her husband Alexander Panasenko.


Permission to use image is awaited

Google Maps (Not visible in Google Street View but can be visualised in Google Maps)


Hand Holding Globe, Khabarovsk, Russia
Hands of Peace (or World) (Russian: Руки мира), it was installed as a symbol of friendship between the cities of Suifenhe and Khabarovsk in honour of the 150th anniversary of Khabarovsk on May 31, 2008.

Image Source: Yandex Maps Panorama



Hand Holding Tomato, Minusinsk, Russia
Located in park opposite a market off ulitsa Krupskoy, Minusinsk.


Three Red Hands, LOFTEC Apartments, Basmanny District, Moscow, Russia

Google Street View (Photosphere)

Monument to Family, Love and Loyalty, Mytishchi, Moscow, Russia
Located in in the Park of Culture and Recreation, which stretches out on the left bank of River Yauza, the sculpture shows two hands, one male and other female, stretch towards each other. On the pedestal is the image of the Murom prince Peter and his beloved Fevronia, who are traditionally considered the patron saints of family and marriage in Russia.

On the other side of the pedestal is a plaque in bas-relief, which tell the short story about the princely couple. It also has impressions of palms of the royal couples. According to the sculptors Denis Solovyov and Alexander Goryunov, the newlyweds should place their hands on the impressions of palms and take an oath in eternal love and loyalty.



Hands at Burganov's House Museum, Moscow, Russia
The house and studio of the famous Russian sculptor Alexander Bourganov contains many hand sculptures in different forms and sometimes in fusion with other body parts/objects. In 2001 the house was officially given the status of a State Museum, known as Bourganov's House Museum.

Some of these hands are pictured below;

Image from Google Maps is by Marina Sokolova

Image from Flickr is by Metlov Alexander

Image from Google Maps is by LoLik MegaGames

Image from Google Maps is by Svetlana Nozzo


Green Hands Valentine, Cape Love, Novorossiysk, Russia
Valentine heart topiary installed in May 2019 is made of artificial turf and the height of the art object exceeds the human height.



"Breakthrough" Memorial, Tatsinskaya, Rostov, Russia
This brutalist art work showing huge abstract fingers holding tanks, is a memorial to the Russian 2nd Guards Tatsinsky Panzer Corps, who in a surprise raid, deep inside German controlled area, destroyed the German air base in the village of Tatsinskaya in December 1942. The corps achieved their purpose, but suffered a heavy loss. The Tatsinskaya Airfield was the main airfield used by the German Wehrmacht during the Battle of Stalingrad to supply the encircled 6th Army from outside.

The memorial was opened in May 1983. Designed by artist-architect P. Ibalakova, it was created mainly from the remains of German aircrafts and 24 tanks of the tank corps.



Monument to Music Conductor, Finestrat, Spain
An artwork by Josep Azorin.

Image from Google Maps is by Antonio Alba

Google Maps (Not visible in Google Maps imagery.)

Source: mapio.net

Hands at Quinn Creations, Gavà, Spain
Two hands can be seen at Quinn Creations through Google Street View. These are probably in the final stage of finishing.

Hand #1

Image Source: Google Street View

It is replica of Lorenzo Quinn's "Give and Take" located at various locations.

Hand #2

Image Source: Google Street View

The final product of above titled "Paint Your Own Life", on display at Quinn Creations, can be seen in Lorenzo's Facebook page.

Hand Shaped Way Marker to Peru-Harri, Stone Park-Museum, Spain
A giant hand way marker, on the Uitzi-Leitza Road, NA-1700, with forefinger pointing towards the branching road leading to the Peru-Harri, Stone Park-Museum.

Image Source: Google Street View

Giant Hands at Peru-Harri Stone Park-Museum, near Leitza, Spain
Created by famous stone lifter and sculptor Iñaki Perurena Gartziarena, the museums contains many sculptures including two giant sized hands.

Image from Google Maps is by Manuel Pino


Image from Google Maps is by Javier Carmona


Source of information: turismo.navarra.es / navarrincon.com

Memorial to
It commemorates the comuneros (citizens) of various towns of Castile, who had revolted against the Spanish king Charles I, in 1520-21.

Image Source: Google Street View

Hands Supporting Globe, Ariana Park, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
The artwork titled "Thoughts and Desires" is by artists Ali Ibadullayev and Salhab Mammadov. It is located at the back of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and was gifted by Azerbaijan in October 2017 on completing 25 years of its UNO membership. The sculpture is made of bronze and granite, and measures 3.80m x 1.90m x 1.80m.

Google Street View (Photo Sphere)

Hand of a River God, Bristol Marina, Bristol, UK
An artwork by Vincent Woropay, installed in 1985, on the Baltic Wharf. The bowl originally held a small fountain in the form of a male figure supporting an obelisk, but it was stolen and never replaced.


The "Middle Way" (2014), Liverpool, UK
Created by Romanian artist Bogdan Rata, this Red Hand titled "Middle Way" was located in front of St. George's Hall. The sculpture is 3.5 meters high and is made of polyester/polystyrene, synthetic resin and fibreglass. The hand was displayed at Liverpool as part of Moving Monuments Programme of Nasui Collection & Gallery. The hand was subsequently displayed at many locations around the World but so far I have able to locate 3 sites. These are namely, Cascais, Porto and Kiev.

Image from Flickr is by Jules


Source: Wikipedia

"Helping Hands", Three Mills Green, London, UK
An artwork by Alec Peever, the sculpture is also known as Workers Memorial and it commemorates four tragic deaths in an industrial accident on 12th July 1901. The sculpture depicts a hand clasped around another hand as if trying to lift up the other from some danger. It was unveiled in 2001, on the occasion of 100 years of the tragedy.

Image from Flickr is by Matt Brown


Source of information and more information: capitalwalksinlondon.com

The Blue "Middle Way" (2018), Kiev, Ukraine
This is the blue version of Red Hand created by Romanian artist Bogdan Rata and it is also titled "Middle Way" and it symbolises "friendship and cooperation". Located on the Taras Shevchenko Boulevard at the same spot where the city's red granite monument to Lenin was located and the same was toppled during the 2014 Maidan uprising.

Image from Google Maps is by Alex Delsian

Google Street View (PhotoSphere)

Source of Information: calvertjournal.com

Hand Holding A Leaf, Belize City, Belize
At the roundabout at start of the Western Highway the giant hand holding a leaf, is commonly known as "Golden Leaf of OK-ness". It was designed by Joseph Chiang and after its installation the roundabout is known as "The Visible Hand" roundabout.

Image from Flickr is by Karen


Hand Pointing a Gun to Raised Hands, Merliot, El Salvador
The sculpture with two giant sized, white, open hands titled "Monument to Transparency" was installed by the government to represent the clean and transparent hands of the officials who run the country.

In order to protest against the false transparency, 'The Collective of Artists Mórula', installed in front of the raised hand, a temporary sculpture of a hand with gun, to highlight that in El Salvador the people have hands up (surrendered) before the corrupt officials, who are stealing from the people. The temporary sculpture installed in September 2017, was made of wire and paper and it was subsequently removed.


Permission to use the image awaited.

Google Maps (Not clearly visible in Google Maps imagery.) / Google Street View (Photosphere)

Source of information: elsalvador.com

"Rise Up", National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Montgomery, AL, USA
Installed in 2016, the artwork titled "Rise Up" by Hank Willis Thomas, consists of a cement wall with statues of black heads and bodies emerging from the top of the wall, with raised hands, suggesting total surrender. The sculpture is a sad commentary on the several incidences of the police violence and brutality witnessed in the country in recent years.

Image from Flickr is by Ron Cogswell


Source of info: Flickr

Michelangelo's "Arm of God" Sundial, Felicity, CA, USA
Felicity is an unincorporated community in Imperial County, California and its key feature is a 21-foot-tall stone-and-glass pyramid. At the entrance to pyramid is a sundial whose 15 foot bronze hand is modelled after pointed finger and arm of God in Michelangelo's famous painting "Creation of Adam" on the ceiling of the of Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.

Image from Flickr is by Jeanne-Ne

Image from Flickr is by Kayna Cassard


Hand Shaped Bike Stand, Loveland, CO, USA
Though not very big hands but being included here because of artistic imagination behind the design. Located at a parking lot at N Railroad Ave and W 4th St.

Image Source: Google Street View (Image digitally enhanced)

Victory and Peace Sign, Alexis, IL, USA
Located on a private property at the at the intersection of Illinois Route 94 and 135. It was carved out of a dead tree which once stood at the property.


Permission to use image is thankfully acknowledged.


"Helping Hands", Chicago Women's Park and Gardens, Chicago, USA
This artwork by Louise Bourgeois is a tribute to Chicago's social reformer and activist, Jane Addams who won Nobel Peace Prize of 1931. It consists of six black granite hands mounted rough-hewn stone pedestals. It was originally installed in 1996 at the Navy Pier Park, where it was frequently vandalised. In 2006 it was removed and kept in storage and finally after repairs it was installed in 2011 at the Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens.

Image from Google Maps is by Reb Hisa

Image from Google Maps is by N Gribouille

Image from Google Maps is by Olive Cattau

Image from Google Maps is by Reb Hisa

Image from Google Maps is by Reb Hisa


Source of information and more information: chicagoparkdistrict.com

Giant Hand with Painted Nails, Pana, IL, USA
This giant hand with painted nails is located on IL-16 Hwy near its intersection with N. 2300 East Rd. The hand is about 5.5 m (18 ft) long and installed with it are sculptures of tall boot and a car on a pole. It is understood that it is planned to be used by a local business man as a giant landmark pointer indicating the way to his business.


Image from Flickr is by Joseph Vavak

Google Street View. Besides the hand, the GSV also shows the Car on pole and the boot.


Star Trek Vulcan Greeting, Peru, Illinois
A wooden carved hand displaying the Vulcan "Live Long & Prosper" greeting. Created circa 2012, it is located on a private property and was carved out of a dead tree at the premises. As per comments in roadsideamerica.com it is in bad shape now and needs cleaning and varnising.


Permission to use the image awaited.

Google Maps / Google Street View (Not a clear view)

Smoking Hand Letterbox, Holland, Michigan, USA
A unusual and artistic letter box. A well manicured feminine hand holding a cigarette shaped letterbox.

Image from Flickr is by Karla


Giant Hands at Fox Cave, Ruidoso Downs, Glencoe, NM, USA
Fox Cave located on East Highway near Ruidoso, New Mexico, was once used as a hideout by William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid. It is now a roadside attraction, basically a gift shop housed in the cave.

Image from Google Maps is by Howard Rains


Giant Hand of "Unity", Brooklyn, NY, USA
Unity, 2019, an original artwork by Hank Willis Thomas was commissioned by the City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art Program, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Design and Construction. The artwork which was unveiled on November 9, 2019, depicts a 6.7 metre (22 ft.) tall bronze arm with index finger pointing skywards. It is located near the access to the Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn, NY, between the United States Post Office and the United States District Court, at the Intersection of Tillary and Adams streets.


Permission to use the image is thankfully acknowledged.


"Serve and Protect", Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
A pair of bronze hands lying on the ground palms upwards, created for first responders, namely; Police, Fire and Emergency Services. This art work by Gregory Ragland measures 38 ft x 20 ft x 20 ft and is located at Public Safety Building.

Image from Google Maps is by Jenny Moran

Google Street View (Not very clear) / Google Maps

Giant Nailed Hand of Christ, Logan, Spokane, WA, USA
Located near St Aloysius Church in the Gonzaga University.


Monument to Charango, Aiquile, Bolivia
Two hands playing Charango - a small Andean stringed instrument of the lute family. Its residents are reputed to be the best charango makers in the country.

Image from Flickr is by Jim McIntosh


Monument to Nossa Senhora Aparecida, Cascavel Cathedral, Cascavel, Brazil
Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Our Lady of Conception Aparecida) is the patron saint of Brazil. Installed in 1995, the monument shows two giant hands holding a statue of Virgin Mary.

Google Street View (Photosphere)

Big Hand, Chile Chico, Chile
In front of Camping Lo del Ale, on Route 265, at the eastern entrance to the town.


Yellow Hand, Villavicencio, Colombia
An abstract hand with many colourful rings on the fingers and a map on the area on the palm.

Image Source: Google Street View

Monument to Hospitality, Guayaquileña, Equador
Monumento a la Hospitalidad (Monument to Hospitality) is a welcome sign, showing a pair of huge hands, located at the intersection of the roads coming from the Guayaquil Airport and the main Bus Terminal catering to National and International passengers.

Permission to use the image awaited.


___________________________________
Credits:
I am thankful to all the artists/photographers/organisations who gave me permission to use images from their websites. Individual acknowledgments are given under the relevant images.

I also thank all the Travel Guides of Google Maps whose photos, uploaded in Google Maps, have been used in this collection. Wherever possible, I normally send individual acknowledgments to all those whose images I use in my posts. Unfortunately there is no way I can contact the Travel Guides of Google Maps. It was possible till Panoramio/Picasaweb were available, however after the demise of these two image sharing/hosting  services, I am unable to send acknowledgments individually.

I am also thankful to my fellow members of Google Earth Community Forum, namely bridgeplayer, hhgygy, krenek, syzygy, Walter_V_R and willi1. They not only informed me about several of the hands included here but also helped me in finding locations of many hands. Without belittling the help I got from my friends I must give extra credit to krenek for doing lot of research work about these hands. Thank you bridgeplayer, hhgygy, krenek, syzygy, Walter_V_R and willi1.

Posted

2 comments:

  1. Shelley PhillipsAugust 17, 2020 5:36 am

    First of all where is Armchair Travelogue. Is it Montreal?

    ReplyDelete
  2. CuriousJMAugust 17, 2020 12:32 pm

    Hi Shelley
    The Travelogue of Armchair Traveller is my blog and I am located in Lucknow, India, not to be confused with Lucknow in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada.

    ReplyDelete

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