3 Amazing Hand-Shaped Sculptures You Should See in Latin America

La Mano in Punta del Este. Uruguay
La Mano in Punta del Este. Uruguay. Photo by Jared Schwitzke on Unsplash

Hands served as inspiration for many amazing artists over the years, including some pretty skilled sculptures. Their spectacular hand-shaped sculptures are now scattered all around the world, and Latin American countries are home to quite a few – including these three.

Mano del Desierto (Atacama Desert, Chile)

One of the most popular hand-shaped sculptures in the entire world is safely tucked away in the middle of Chile’s Atacama Desert. Designed by the Chilean sculpture Mario Irarrázabal, this gigantic iron and concrete hand sculpture was meant to represent human vulnerability and helplessness.

La Mano (Punta del Este. Uruguay)

Mano del Desierto isn’t the only famous hand sculpture crafted by Irarrázabal. Located in Punta del Este, Uruguay’s charming resort town, La Mano aka Los Dedos is just as impressive and it shows fingers emerging from the sand. It’s a warning to swimmers and surfers in this area, known for its strong waves.

Las Pozas (Xilitla, Mexico)

Unlike the previous two attractions, Las Pozas doesn’t feature an isolated hand attraction, but a bunch that you can discover during your visit. It’s a sculpture park filled with surrealistic creations by Edward James, buried deep inside the tropical rainforest in the Sierra Gorda mountains.