A 45-foot statue of a nude woman is the newest — and tallest — resident of San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza.
The artwork, titled “R-Evolution,” was unveiled with music, lights and performance art Thursday, courtesy of the public art nonprofit Illuminate. Designed to glow at night and appear to “breathe” via internal motors, the statue was meant to represent strength and compassion.
Instead, it’s sparked backlash, internet memes and questions about the city’s priorities.
Originally created for Burning Man in 2015 by sculptor Marco Cochrane, the stainless steel figure now stands outside the Ferry Building, casting a long (and anatomically detailed) shadow over a city where fewer and fewer people seem impressed by spectacle.
While some see the statue as empowering, many San Franciscans see it as another example of the city misreading the room.
Social media lit up after a video by influencer Collin Rugg went viral showing a cherry picker being awkwardly hoisted between the statue’s legs during installation. Commentators quickly had a field day.
“Nothing says ‘reviving downtown’ like a 45-foot naked lady getting rear-end surgery,” wrote one user. Another deadpanned, “This picture kind of embodies the spirit of San Francisco — head up a–.”
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