Seoul Love Locks
by Joan Carroll
Title
Seoul Love Locks
Artist
Joan Carroll
Medium
Photograph - Digital Art
Description
It seems an international phenomenon, the love lock or love padlock. The love lock is a padlock which significant others lock to a bridge, fence, gate, or similar public fixture to symbolize their love. Typically the sweethearts' names or initials are inscribed on the padlock, and its key is thrown away to symbolize unbreakable love. Since the 2000s, love locks have proliferated at an increasing number of locations worldwide. They are often treated by municipal authorities as litter or vandalism, and there is some cost to their removal. Indeed, recently 45 tons of locks were removed from the Pont des Arts in Paris for fear that batches of the locks or even a whole panel could have come crashing down on the boats passing beneath on the Seine. This is a fence near the North Seoul Tower on Namsan Mountain in Seoul South Korea. It is a romantic pilgrimage for those couples who wish to declare their eternal love. But unlike in Paris, New York and other cities where love locks are cut down, North Seoul Tower actively encourages people to leave locks in specially designated areas - even going as far to commission metal trees and hearts for this purpose - where now thousands of love locks spreading a message of love are scattered around the base of the tower. I wonder how long until this fence falls down....
FEATURED PHOTO, Out of the Ordinary group, 6/7/15
FEATURED PHOTO, ART - It Is Good For You group, 6/4/15
Uploaded
June 4th, 2015
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Viewed 3,198 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/22/2024 at 2:12 PM
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Comments (87)
Liesl Walsh
Beautiful image - I saw the love locks in Paris but didn't know about these in Seoul. l/f
Joni Eskridge
It's a fascinating practice, but really hard on fences. Glad they have designated places as there are places this has been done where the fence or rail falling apart would be quite dangerous and not necessarily obvious until it is too late! Wonder what future civilization will think these places are : )
Carol Lynn Coronios
Such a colorful, unending sculpture! Thank you so much for the description, Joan. l/g+
Wonju H
Wow~~~ it's my country but I didn't know these things. Your photo looks so awesome. I didn't know you've been Korea. :)
Lexa Harpell
Very cool...the weight would be phenominal! 45 tones is a lot of metal....do people think of the damage to the bridges???? Obviously not...
Joan Carroll replied:
thanks for stopping by Lexa, yes they do damage the old bridges, they did take some down but people persist!
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