Spring, Modern sculpture in Cheonggyecheon, South Korea
Spring is a 20-metre-tall, 6-metre-diameter sculpture of a conch shell from the Indian Ocean, standing in Cheonggye Plaza at the start of Cheonggyecheon in Seoul. The dark red and blue exterior narrows toward the top, and a tunnel-like opening lets visitors see the ivory-painted interior, which is lit at night.
Spring was made by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, both American artists of Swedish origin, and unveiled on 29 September 2006 at Cheonggye Plaza. The work commemorates the restoration of the Cheonggyecheon stream, which had been covered for decades. Its $3.4 million cost, including $600,000 paid to the artists, was donated entirely by KT.
The work is nicknamed Sora-tap, Korean for "conch tower", after the Indian Ocean mollusc it depicts. Oldenburg said the fountain at its base represents water springing from Cheonggyecheon, and at night the round opening is mirrored in the square pool in front, appearing like a full moon.
Spring stands on Cheonggye Plaza at the start of the Cheonggyecheon stream walk in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. The tunnel-like interior can be viewed from outside, and lights switch on inside at night. A square pool sits in front of the sculpture, where the round opening is mirrored after dark.
The 20-metre shell narrows toward the top, a form proposed by Coosje van Bruggen. At night the round opening of the square pool in front of the sculpture catches the light so that it looks like a full moon rising. The piece is also known locally as Sora Tower.
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