DUBLIN, IRELAND.- The Irish Wave, the tallest sculpture in Europe, was unveiled by artist Angela Conner in Parkwest, Dublin. The work is made of steel and carbon and is 116 feet tall and weighs more than 20 tons. It is feet taller than the Anger of the North sculpture at Gateshead. According to Angela Conner, she was inspired by everything from calligraphy to saplings moving in the wind. It took Angela Conner two years to design and build the sculpture at Dublin’s Park West business area. The sculpture is able to sway up to 20ft in the wind before returning to its central position due to a nine-ton counterweight that is hidden underground. It took three cranes to lift it into place and dozens of workers. The project was estimated at around 893,500 euros.
Angela Conner said: "The idea behind the sculpture comes from the sense that people or things always regain a sense of centre. This, philosophically, is something that interested me very much. I particularly like people who get into all sorts of trouble but manage to keep their sense of balance."