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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
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  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
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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.

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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.

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Added By

Jon Lucas

Published

May 21, 2024

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  • 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
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