Olympic-Sized Art

“Olympic Tapes,” by Cody Hamilton. Purchase for as low as $20 (picture linked).

If we’re being real, an “Olympic size” really refers to “the dimensions or length prescribed for the Olympic Games and other major athletic competitions.” But popular culture has morphed this term to infer something is LARGE, VOLUMINOUS, and WORTHY OF A SECOND TAKE.

Through my time reading about and looking at art, I know there are a number of VOLUMINOUS pieces around town.

To honor the 2012 Olympic Games, let’s highlight the world’s largest, tallest and longest artwork (or Olympic-sized), thanks to Guinness World Records.

1. 

   God of Longevity in the Meng Shan mountains.

   The statue of the God of Longevity is the largest stone carving measuring 656 ft wide and 715 ft high. The statue is in the Meng Shan mountains near Pingyi, Shandong, China.

2. 

   by Protex Soap, 2010.

   The largest soap sculpture measures at 7.19 x 6.79 x 8.80 ft and was created by Protex Soap in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2010. The sculpture represents a globe held by two hands.

3. 

   by The Gelatin Collective, 2008.

   The Gelatin Collective (Austria) created a 200 ft long pink knitted rabbit named “Hase” on the side of a mountain in Piedmont, northern Italy. The sculpture uses 2,200 lbs. of wool and took over a year to knit, stuff and place. Guinness World Records says, “the collective hopes that the sculpture will exist for 20 years. It is free for the public to explore.”

4. 

   by The National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS) , 2011.

   The longest painting measured at 23,510 ft x 5.98 in (that’s 7.6 yards) and was created by 827 children on behalf of the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS) in Asmara, Eritrea. The 2011 painting raises awareness on pollution, deforestation and desertification. “The painting took 300 hours to complete over the span of 57 days,” according to Guinness World Records.

5. 

   Spring Temple Buddha.

   The Spring Temple Buddha is located in the Zhaocun township of Lushan County, Henan, China. At 420 ft, it is the tallest statue in the world. And isn’t that an epic picture?

6. 

   Studio Rojo, 2007.

   The longest lino print measures at 89 ft x 11 in long and was created by Studio Rojo at the Southern Graphics Council in Kansas City in 2007.

    

7. 

   by Jim Denevan, 2009.

   This desert art by Jim Denevan has a diameter of over 3 miles wide. According to The Daily Mail, “the largest lines etched into the sand of Jim’s drawing are 28 feet wide and almost three feet deep in places.”

   Okay, let the games begin!

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