Universal Man, Bronze sculpture at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto, Canada
Universal Man is a bronze sculpture portraying a human figure with outstretched arms and legs that convey a sense of motion. Standing about 6.5 meters tall, the figure occupies the Dufferin entrance of Yorkdale Shopping Centre with its expansive, dynamic pose.
Gerald Gladstone created this bronze work in 1972 under commission from CN Rail, and it was originally installed at the CN Tower. The sculpture was later relocated to its current position at the shopping centre.
The sculpture draws from Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man concept, presenting the human body in an expanded pose that visitors can contemplate. This reference to Renaissance philosophy remains visible in how the figure is positioned and proportioned.
The sculpture sits prominently at the Dufferin side of Yorkdale Shopping Centre, making it easy to locate and serving as a natural meeting spot. Its position near the entrance means you can visit without needing to navigate the shopping centre itself.
The sculpture suffered significant damage when being relocated and lay face down on railway land for several years before restoration work brought it back in 1994. This difficult history adds another dimension to how visitors encounter the work today.
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