The World Is Too Much With Us – Sculpture by Giles Penny in Canary Wharf
My dad photographed this chap a few years ago in Canary Wharf, London. I just love it! It’s a sculpture by Giles Penny called ‘Man With Open Arms.’ Speaking about it, the Wharf website tells us this:
“Head thrown back and arms outstretched, the oversized figure could be in ecstasy or despair.
Giles Penny’s bronze figure stands among the trees in the centre of West India Avenue.
The sculpture prompts debate: is the man looking for inspiration, worshipping a supreme being or simply soaking up the sunshine? “
I think one of the nicest things about truly lovely works of art is that they don’t let you land anywhere – you can’t conclude. The eye can travel around the piece for years, and it doesn’t seem to end.
This sculpture reminds me of a few lines from a poem by William Wordsworth:
“The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers”
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