LA GIGANTA
Interactive Sculpture | Everty Tower, San José, Costa Rica
A Tradition Brought to Life Inspired by traditional Costa Rican masquerades, La Giganta celebrates popular identity, joy, and collective participation. Masquerades are an essential part of Costa Rican culture, dating back to colonial times. These oversized, expressive characters move through streets accompanied by music and dance, transforming public spaces into moments of celebration.
Among them, La Giganta stands out—a larger-than-life female figure that embodies playfulness, movement, and shared cultural memory.
Masquerades and Cimarronas
Masquerades are traditionally accompanied by the cimarrona—a lively brass and percussion band. Together, they create a unique atmosphere of:
- Sound
- Movement
- Energy
- Community
For generations, these celebrations have been central to local festivals, preserving a living cultural tradition.
From Tradition to Contemporary Form
This sculpture reinterprets that tradition within a modern urban context through a fully handcrafted process:
- Concept design inspired by real masquerades
- Construction of an internal metal structure
- Hand sculpting and artistic development
- Bronze casting
- On-site installation
Each step honors the original spirit of the masquerades while translating it into a permanent, contemporary piece.
An Artwork That Comes Alive Through You
This sculpture is designed to be symbolically inhabited. The opening in its skirt invites
visitors to step in, take a photo, and become part of the piece itself, transforming the artwork into a shared, interactive experience.
Because just like in traditional masquerades:
“An empty figure is nothing without the person inside it.”
Discover the intersection of culture and modern architecture at Everty Tower.
