On my way up to Manchester yesterday I was tweeting about the journey, mainly for the benefit of Kevin who likes to hear about train rides. Passing through Stoke-on-Trent I mentioned that I had seen a creepy giant hand on the platform. This was met with some curiosity by my followers on Twitter and Facebook and I promised to try to provide evidence. Unfortunately I slept through Stoke on the way back, but Google is my friend, so here is the giant hand in all of it’s, er, glory.
You can see a large version, and several other shots of the hand, at this local area website. The sculpture is by Vincent Woropay and was originally created for the 1990 National Garden Festival at Gateshead. It was commissioned by British Rail, though why they chose to relocate it to Stoke is a mystery to me. The small figure in the palm of the hand is supposed to represent Chronos, the Greek god of Time.
I suppose a railway station is a good place to have time on your hand(s)…
Heh. It may be in Stoke, but that is certainly the Giant Hand of Gateshead; I remember it from its first incarnation/location. I’m glad it’s still on view, though, as you say. Stoke.