Social Life for All - How Interactive Sculptures Bring Us Together

A great sculpture has the power to really pull a space together. When designed with the intention to engage the public, it can become a focal point that attracts visitors of all ages and backgrounds and thus a staple of the community. "Let's meet at the ___ sculpture!" becomes a familiar phrase recognized far and wide. A unique, interactive sculpture can also bring out the best in us – eliciting wonder and joy – which infuses the public space with positive energy.

Nancy Schön's ducklings sculpture in the Boston Public Garden is a great example of this power in action. Every time we've visited, we've witnessed different ways in which people connect to this charming row of bronze ducks – literally in the sense of how they caress or climb them, and figuratively in the sense of how they put people in touch with the space. Everyone that passes by is influenced in some way by this iconic sculpture – whether to look at it with a smile, slow down and stop to take a photo with friends or family, touch the figures curiously, or even climb aboard!

Kids thrive too, creating their own way of interacting with the sculptures

Interactive sculptures thrill people at every age

A great interactive sculpture is one that appeals to everyone – one that is fun for children to climb, adults to take photographs of, the elderly to sit on and rest, and so on. It is an asset that everyone can appreciate and enjoy. What's more, if there are different ways to experience it, everyone can choose what feels most fun and comfortable for them. The Colonnes de Buren in Paris is a great example of this – with striped columns at varying heights, people are invited to climb, sit, or play on whichever one most draws their interest. No one feels left out from interacting with this whimsical elaborate piece in the way that they please.

Children

For children, a climbable sculpture can be as good as a playground – something they can play with in a variety of ways and that activates their minds and emotions. It challenges them to figure out how to reach the top, gets them thinking about what the sculpture represents, and invites them to use their imaginations to think of a story that brings the frozen characters to life.

Adults

When adults come across a great sculpture, their inner child comes out to play too. They sometimes want to explore and climb it just as much as children do, and on top of that they love to take a photo to preserve the memory of their momentary "blast to the past."

Families

It seems like nothing puts a smile on every member of a family's face like a unique interactive sculpture. From the moment it catches their eye, to the moment everybody has found a way to pose on it for the group photo, the sculpture becomes a catalyst for family bonding and unforgettable time spent together.

Standout Interactive Sculptures From Around the World

Central Park, NYC – Alice in Wonderland and Hans Christian Andersen

San Diego – Niki de Saint Phalle sculpture in Balboa Park

Paris, Tuileries Garden - Aristide Maillol's Nudes

Stockholm's Kungsträdgården - Statue of Charles XIII

Oslo, Norway - The three figures

Stockholm - Djurgården art by Pippa Longstreth

Zurich - Unique Seating Sculptures

From strangers to friends

The magic of the interactive sculpture is its power to turn strangers into friends. People may arrive from different directions with different groups, but when one person climbs one end of the sculpture and another person climbs another one, they laugh together over how their minds were on the same wavelength. This shared moment breaks the ice, the pair start a conversation, and sometimes genuine connections happen! A great sculpture is one you can't ignore – one that connects you to its context and to your fellow your community member, inviting you to return again and again and make new memories each time.