Italian artist Davide Rivalta has installed thirteen monumental bronze sculptures of lions, buffalo, and rhinoceroses across Stockholm, Sweden, in a project titled "Blowing Figures into Space." Organized by the Italian Cultural Institute of Stockholm, the works are placed in strategic locations including Mynttorget, Gamla Stan, Ladugårdsgärdet, and Hagaparken, with installations rolling out from April 2025 through summer 2027. The first sculpture was unveiled near the Swedish Parliament during Stockholm Art Week, and additional animals will appear in public parks on August 29.
The project matters because it transforms Stockholm's urban fabric into an open-air museum, fostering a continuous dialogue between art, landscape, and nature over an extended period. Rivalta's animal sculptures, known for their emotional accessibility, invite direct physical engagement rather than intellectual contemplation, reshaping how citizens and visitors experience public spaces. The initiative also highlights the role of cultural diplomacy, with the Italian Cultural Institute facilitating permits and partnerships with the Royal Parks and the city government, demonstrating how institutional support can realize large-scale public art that becomes a familiar, seasonal presence in everyday life.