Mimir, Bronze sculpture in Northwest Portland, United States.
Mimir is a bronze sculpture in Northwest Portland featuring a decorative obelisk with an expressive mask mounted at the top, complete with distinctive features including a cone-shaped nose and tusks. The work sits on a concrete base positioned between Thurman and Upshur streets along NW 27th Avenue.
Artist Keith Jellum created this bronze work in 1980 under commission from the Portland Development Commission and Tom Walsh Construction for the city. The sculpture emerged during a period when Portland was investing in public art installations to enhance urban spaces.
The sculpture references Norse mythology, specifically the figure of Mimir, a wise being whose severed head became an oracle for the god Odin. Visitors can trace this mythological connection through the expressive facial features carved into the bronze.
The sculpture is located at a street corner in an easily accessible area, making it simple to visit without needing advance planning. Visitors can walk by and view the work at any time since it sits in public space.
The base features an intentionally unreadable hieroglyphic inscription, which the artist created as a statement about the relevance of traditional monument plaques. This deliberate choice to keep the inscription puzzling invites visitors to reconsider the meaning of public art and text.
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