Maailman rauha / World Peace, Bronze sculpture in Siltasaari, Finland.
Maailman rauha is a 6.5-meter (21-foot) tall bronze sculpture featuring five figures representing different continents holding a globe together. The globe is decorated with leaf patterns and the figures display raised fists as a sign of strength and determination.
Moscow gifted this sculpture to Helsinki in 1990 as part of a cultural exchange program, with the city receiving a Friendship of People statue in return. The work was created during a time when international relations between nations were being reshaped.
The statue depicts people from different continents working together toward a shared goal. The sight of these united figures speaks to visitors who believe in cooperation and mutual respect.
The work is currently in storage as it was relocated during Crown Bridges construction. It will return to a location near its original site in the foreseeable future.
In a 2008 survey, residents ranked the monument as both the third most disliked and third most appreciated sculpture in the city. These contradictory opinions show how deeply people can differ in their feelings toward art.
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