// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did "Man with Fish" say? I'm hooked on the topic.
| Man with Fish | |
|---|---|
 The sculpture in 2015 | |
 | |
| Artist | Stephan Balkenhol |
| Medium | Bronze sculpture |
| Dimensions | 4.9 m (16 ft) |
| Location |
|
Man with Fish is an outdoor fountain and sculpture installed outside Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, in the U.S. state of Illinois.[1] The statue was donated to the aquarium by William N. Sick in recognition of his wife, Stephanie.[2] Designed and sculpted by the German sculptor Stephan Balkenhol in 2001, the statue depicts an expressionless man standing in a shallow pond, hugging a giant fish with water spouting from its mouth.[3][4] The water from the fountain falls into a reflecting pool decorated with vibrant images of marine life.[4] It is 16 feet tall and made of painted bronze.[3]
The statue is located at the entrance outside the building's ground-floor, on the southwest side of the aquarium.[1] It exemplifies the human interest in aquatic life and our responsibility to preserve the world's marine and freshwater ecosystems.[4] The design of the statue has been received negatively by some, being described as "strange and perplexing" and is frequently being voted amongst the ugliest statues in the city.[4]
In 2015, the statue was outfitted with a QR code that could be scanned to hear the statue "talking" about itself as part of the Statue Stories Chicago program.[5] The script for the statue was written by Chris Redd and voiced by Steve Carell.[4] Initially set to last a year,[5] this public arts initiative was extended until the end of 2020.[6] As part of the aquarium's Centennial Commitment plan, the area around the statue was redesigned, with a new garden and ticketing area installed by 2025 to provide patrons with a "more interactive and immersive experience".[7]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Horst-Hatch, Megan (October 1, 2012). "Best Bizarre Public Art In Chicago". CBS Chicago. Archived from the original on April 9, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Man with Fish | Artwork". Chicago Park District. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- 1 2 "MAN WITH FISH". Statue Stories Chicago. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Davis, William. "Man With Fish in Chicago". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- 1 2 "Chicago attraction gives history a voice". CBS News. August 7, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ "30 Chicago Statues to Keep Talking Through 2020". WTTW News. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Giangiulio, Davis (November 19, 2024). "Shedd Aquarium unveils new entrance, sculptures". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 1, 2026.