Permyak Salty Ears, Modern art monument in Leninsky District, Russia
Permyak Salty Ears is a bronze artwork in Leninsky District, Russia, made of a circular frame with large ears and a photographer figure. The frame stands freely on the pavement and invites passersby to put their face through and take a photo.
The installation was funded by Binbank and unveiled in 2006 to celebrate the salt mining heritage of Perm. Workers used to carry salt sacks on their shoulders and their ears turned red from the weight.
The sculpture refers to a nickname for people from Perm, linked to the time when salt workers carried heavy sacks and their ears turned red and swollen. Visitors often stand behind the frame and put their heads through to have salty ears themselves.
The monument stands near Hotel Prikamye on Komsomolsky Prospekt and is accessible at any time. Visitors can put their heads through the frame and take a souvenir photo, especially during daylight for good lighting.
In 2009, Russian World magazine recognized the bronze installation as the most unusual monument in the entire Russian Federation. The mix of interactive photo station and historical reference made the work known across the country.
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