Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The plane as it lies
Douglas C-47B Crash Site
Museum of Perfume
Charlotte Temple’s Grave
Hisham’s Palace
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Omni Parker House Hotel
The Omni Parker House: Inside the History of Boston’s Most Iconic Hotel
about 3 hours ago
The cute capybara.
Animal Takeover: Brace Yourself for Adorable Hordes
1 day ago
The Codex Gigas (the Devil’s Bible) open to the portrait of the devil.
Codex Gigas: Who Drew the Devil in This Massive Medieval Bible?
2 days ago
USDA and Washington State agriculture officials tagged this Asian giant hornet. Sept. 10, 2021.
What Ever Happened to the Murder Hornets?
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Canada British Columbia Vancouver Two Spirits Carving

Two Spirits Carving

A mysterious sculpture is hidden in Vancouver's Stanley Park.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Added By
Dean Lucas
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  Jon Lucas / Atlas Obscura User
  Jon Lucas / Atlas Obscura User
  Jon Lucas / Atlas Obscura User
  Jon Lucas / Atlas Obscura User
  Jon Lucas / Atlas Obscura User
  Jon Lucas / Atlas Obscura User
  Jon Lucas / Atlas Obscura User
  Jon Lucas / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Nestled deep within the wilds of Stanley Park stands the Two Spirits carving. The mysterious statue follows the guerrilla art movement championed by artists like Banksy. In this vein, no artist has claimed to have created it and Stanley Park government officials refuse to recognize it.  The statue is a rebellion and speaks to the untamed spirit of Stanley Park itself.

Carved into a decomposing stump, the face morphs and changes as you walk around the carving. From one angle, the statue appears watchful, a guardian of the forest. From another, it conveys a sense of wisdom and a deep connection to the land. Leaves sprouting from the stump that resemble the face's hair adds a touch of whimsy to the piece. 

Slowly, nature is reclaiming the stump, integrating the artwork back into the forest itself. Also, due to its unofficial status vandals have felt free to damage it, such as in 2020 when the carving was painted. Today, none of the paint remains. It was either removed or nature wore it away.

Related Tags

Giant Heads Trails Public Art Outsider Art Woods Woodwork Parks Trees Sculptures

Know Before You Go

Lace up your walking shoes, pack your sense of adventure, and embark on a quest to find the Two Spirits of Stanley Park. The statue hides a few hundred metres from the X formed by the Bridle and Rawlings Trails. You won't be disappointed.

Community Contributors

Added By

Jon Lucas

Published

May 21, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/two-spirits-face-tree-carving-stanley-park
  • Pg 77 Legacy of Trees: Purposeful Wandering in Vancouver's Stanley Park By Nina Shoroplova
Two Spirits Carving
Bridle Path
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6G
Canada
49.308065, -123.147301
Get Directions

Nearby Places

'Girl in a Wetsuit'

Vancouver, British Columbia

miles away

9 O'Clock Gun

Vancouver, British Columbia

miles away

'Inukshuk'

Vancouver, British Columbia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Vancouver

Vancouver

British Columbia

Places 33
Stories 11

Nearby Places

'Girl in a Wetsuit'

Vancouver, British Columbia

miles away

9 O'Clock Gun

Vancouver, British Columbia

miles away

'Inukshuk'

Vancouver, British Columbia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Vancouver

Vancouver

British Columbia

Places 33
Stories 11

Related Places

  • Talking Poles.

    Tokoroa, New Zealand

    Talking Poles

    The wooden sculptures are studded throughout a small New Zealand town.

  • Frank Bruce Sculpture Trail.

    Feshiebridge, Scotland

    Frank Bruce Sculpture Trail

    These skilfully executed, poignant works of art dot a verdant Scottish dell.

  • Giant blueberries.

    Stokke, Norway

    Sti For Øye

    Art becomes an enchanting part of the environment at this wooded sculpture park.

  • Tree carving in Balloch.

    West Dunbartonshire, Scotland

    Balloch Park Fairy Trail

    A local tree surgeon has created a whimsical walk full of carved tree stumps near Scotland's Loch Lomond.

  • La Louvière, Belgium

    ‘La Grande Assiette Brisée’ (‘The Large Broken Plate’)

    This surprising work of art reminds us that La Louvière was once home to one of Europe’s most famous stoneware factories.

  • Eskişehir, Turkey

    Uğur Mumcu Park

    This harrowing memorial remembers a murdered investigative journalist.

  •  Visitors enjoy the views of Torrey Pines Cliffs.

    La Jolla, California

    Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

    A dramatic coastline that’s home to a rare pine tree.

  • The Tree of Remembrance with pigeons roosting in it.

    Manchester, England

    Tree of Remembrance

    One of the trees in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens is actually a World War II memorial, and it's made of metal.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.