Staring impassively out from the murky waters of River Nervion in the Spanish town of Bilbao, the eerily lifelike face of a young girl drowning in the tide has been unsettling the city since she appeared unannounced last week.
Mexican hyperrealist artist Ruben Orozco created the enigmatic figure, entitled 'Bihar' (“Tomorrow,” in Basque) for a campaign by the BBK Foundation - the charitable arm of Spanish lender Kutxabank - to encourage debate around sustainability.
The goal for people to be aware that "their actions can sink us or keep us afloat," the artist told Spanish news website Nius.
As the tides rise and fall, the 120-kilogram (264 pound) fiberglass figure is continuously submerged and uncovered each day, which BBK said was a reflection on what could happen "if we continue to bet on unsustainable models."
(Reuters)
