Body Language - Spirit of Place

A bronze, three metres tall, Spirit of Place is situated on a paved area close to an underpass in front of the Palmerston North City Council Administration Building so making it possible for both pedestrians and motorists alike to view it from all sides.

The sculpture is made up of fragments of body extremities, a head, a hand and a foot which blend together to make the shape of a figure, standing poised with its head quizzically tilted at the 'door of the city'. The head, with a winged temple, suggests thoughts taking flight and faces the learning institutions across the Manawatu River. The hand inclines toward the city’s cultural area and the foot, as seen from The Square side, holds a rose between its toes, reflecting the enjoyment of nature that flourishes in this central green space. The work serves to humanise the nearby architecture