h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

DG:

Sasha says this sculpture is called 'Connections', and it's by Stephen Broadbent.

I like the view from inside the O.

This looks much better in monochrome than the rust red it actually is, Faces of Liverpool is one of those pieces most drive past without noticing. Nicely framed Sasha!

Ah, the monochrome magic!

I want to see the rust red version now, to compare and contrast. heheh.

Amaaaaazing composition! Not a very technical comment, I know, but I find it amaaaaaazing.

I believe it's one of three "connection" pieces, linking cities to their shared histories. Faces of Liverpool being #1..but I could be wrong, sure Sasha will know cc

Interesting. 'Connection' pieces.

I wonder when sculpture was invented?

Bit of a wide question before coffee.

When was the first sculpture made, like, the need to create 3d art.

Definitely Greek or Roman, but probably waaay before.

What about totems and those faces on Easter Island and hmmm wonder if cave people made sculptures?

I really do need a coffee.

The oldest sculpture we still have would be the Löwenmensch figurine or Lion-man of the Hohlenstein-Stadel, a cave in Swabia (Germany).

Ah, that's why Swabians are so conceited. (They have this reputation.) They got Kultur first...

It's a were-lion. And it's 35,000-40,000 years old. Carved mammoth ivory.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Loewenmensch2.jpg

Making sculptures is very human, if they did it in the Palaeolithic. It also took a lot of work - a modern sculptor tried it using the same tools. It took him 400 hours, says the British Museum.

http://blog.britishmuseum.org/the-lion-man-an-ice-age-masterpiece/

Sorry, I got interested...

That's amazing!!!!!

Thank you for this incredible knowledge!!!!

I love the were-lion.

And what about the lion man from the Ice Age!! Imagine that, it taking 400 hours for the modern sculptor.

How did they dream up lion man in the Ice Age? Like, the supernatural. It is shamanistic. And then the effort it takes to communicate these curious symbols.

Very inspired now!!!!

Yes. This was making me think, too, about the mental process that came up with a were-lion.

If we discount the possibility, however remote, that there actually WERE were-lions 40,000 years ago - I mean, we weren't there, we shouldn't be so bossy - one wonders if the imagination worked differently back then?

Hypnagogic pareidolia, perhaps? Visions by humans prone to sleep paralysis in the days before UFO sightings? A weird effect of the local salad greens?

Then there's the name Ariel, 'Lion of God'...

Yes! I'm sooo intrigued now! I love this kind of thing.

Reminds me of Graham Hancock's book, Supernatural, which I read quite a few times.

The salad did maybe have funny leaves in it.

Or not.

Objection! says the were-lion. Who are you to call me a mere illusion.

Thanks everyone!

Here is the colour version for comparison purposes http://www.flickr.com/photos/sashaq99/49721144363

I bow to your superior knowledge, FWR - I googled and found the title Connections but I now see it is indeed Connections - Face of Liverpool

Very interesting about the history of sculpture - the were-lion would be very skilled art even with modern tools... Art is a way of communicating curious symbols indeed http://www.ancienthistorylists.com/pre-history/top-10-oldest-art-ever-discovered/

Ah, the rust red version!! Thanks Sasha!

Interesting to see the difference. I respond to the rust red, but your monochrome version takes it to a different place. Kind of more otherworldly. Different light. Yes!

Look at these ancient images! This is really very inspiring.

Where can I get some Paleolithic salad?

I only know because a mate of mine refused to tell me what the Morse code on the wall means!