When we state the word ‘Art’, it is not only confined to the scribbling and/or painting on a canvas, but it is the way how a human expresses and shows his creative mind through drawing, painting and also writing, sculpting and dancing etc. Art is vague, open and full of liberty, in terms of creating and as well as interpreting. The great Russian writer; Leo Tolstoy has beautifully quoted, ‘Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of feeling the artist has experienced.’
One of the earliest form of arts is three dimensional art. It dates back to the almost prehistoric era. By three Dimensional Art, it means sculpting. Sculpting has not only been a form of art, but religion for many. However, we are going to discuss how sculpting has been one of the most beautiful and more importantly, a significant form of art, especially in New York City.
A sculpture of humans or animals of almost life size human, with a significant concept is called a statue. Adding more, a statue is a sculpture, which comes in the category of public art and has some meaning underlying it, mainly according to the culture or society of the place where it is standing. The New York City has many significant statues in its land which has been famous and inspirational all around the world.
But we are mainly going to talk about the most remarkable statue in the world, which is none other than the gift of France; the Statue of Liberty, given to the United States of America in 1886. The statue is located in Liberty Island, in New York City, in the United States, and is the design of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and was built by Gustave Eiffel, who has also built another famous world class piece; The Eiffel Tower.
The statue is actually a representation of the Roman Goddess, Libertas. The name itself has been derived from the word Liberty. To make it more symbolic, broken chains are lying around her feet, which reflects freedom, liberation and mainly the independence of the United States of America from England, on 4th July, 1776.
The statue is holding Tabula ansata (famous Roman tablets with dove tails handles), which has the date of independence inscribed on it with Roman numbers, while on the other hand, there is a torch held up high. The torch is the symbolism of enlightenment, which lights the path towards liberty, as a matter of fact; the statue was also called the “Liberty Enlightening the World”.
The symbolism of enlightenment can also be seen on the statue’s head as Libertas is wearing the crown with seven spikes that firstly indicates the Sun, which is the largest star and illuminates the brightest. Plus, it should be noted that the number seven is not representing the lucky number, but the seven seas (Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea) and also the seven continents (Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia).
The huge 93 meter copper figure was brought from France in 350 pieces, shipped in 214 crates. The inside of the statue has staircases so that the visitors can climb inside it and reach till the crown. And many visitors travel to especially witness and appreciate the magnificent statue.
Basically, the Statue of Liberty is the representation of America, as Elaine Chao truly stated, ‘As I looked up at the Statue of Liberty, I thought at that time, ‘What a wonderful country.’