Universal Man
- For the character from The Incredibles see List of The Incredibles characters#Other superheroes
- For the concept of Universal man (homo universalis in latin) see Polymath
Universal Man is a sculpture by Gerald Gladstone located today outside the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The 6.5-metre bronze figure was originally located in a prominent location at the foot of the CN Tower, there located to "give a balance of human scale" to the tower. It was commissioned by CN Rail in 1972 at a cost of some $100,000 and the statue was unveiled in 1976. According to Gladstone the work was inspired by da Vinci's Vitruvian Man. The giant arms and legs of the figure represent the range of motion possible to a human figure.[1]
In 1987 it was moved from its site during the construction of SkyDome, and was not replaced reportedly due to lack of space in the area. This, and the damage inflicted on the statue during moving (right hand broken off), infuriated Gladstone. CN moved the statue to a piece of vacant railway land by the Gardiner Expressway and Spadina Avenue, and placed the statue face down in the dirt field where it remained for several years.[2] In 1994 it was restored (with damaged hand repaired) to public view by the government of North York who placed it by the Dufferin entrance to Yorkdale Mall. This was to Gladstone's satisfaction.[3]
References
- ↑ Gary Michael Dault. "Universal Man an Anti-Climax." Toronto Star. July 30, 1976 pg. E12.
- ↑ John Barber. "Monument to grandiose intentions lies in mud." The Globe and Mail. Sep 28, 1993. pg. A.20
- ↑ Paul Moloney. "Statue finds a home at Yorkdale Universal Man was dumped when dome built." Toronto Star.Sep 27, 1994. Sec. C. pg. A.6
Coordinates: 43°43′32″N 79°27′21″W / 43.725515°N 79.455789°W