Heroes

A pair of god-like hands emerged from a Venice canal. Here's how they got there.

On May 13, a pair of god-like hands emerged from the canals of Venice, Italy.

Image from Lorenzo Quinn.

The building that the arms — which are an art installation titled "Support" — appear to be propping up is the historic Ca' Sagredo Hotel. The sculpture is on display as part of the 2017 La Biennale di Venezia, an annual art exhibition.

The sculpture is pretty magnificent and setting it up was a pretty big undertaking. Here's some of the incredible photos showing just what it took to get bring "Support" to life. (By the way, some of the Instagram pictures are actually videos. Be sure to hit play.)

"Support" was created by renowned artist Lorenzo Quinn.

Image from Lorenzo Quinn,

The hands were built off-site by Quinn and his team.

Just how big are they? One fingertip is the size of Quinn's head.

To get to their final display location, the hands were loaded on boats.

Image from Lorenzo Quinn,

What did you expect? This is Venice after all.

Navigating the narrow canals with the hands on board was no easy feat.

But they made it to Ca' Sagredo in one piece.

Image from Lorenzo Quinn,

Once there, cranes carefully maneuvered them into their final place against the hotel walls.

•SUPPORT• is here! The installation at the @ca_sagredo_venice #LorenzoQuinnVenice

A post shared by Halcyon Gallery (@halcyongallery) on

One down... one to go #venicebiennale2017 #halcyongallery #lorenzoquinn

A post shared by Lorenzo Quinn (@lorenzoquinnartist) on

Almost there...

A post shared by Lorenzo Quinn (@lorenzoquinnartist) on

The hands symbolize humanity's power to reshape the world for good or ill.

On Instagram, Quinn wrote that he hopes "Support" will inspire people "to support this wonder of city that is threatened by climate change. I hope my art brings a new focus of attention to a global calamity that we are faced with. "

Yes!...so happy to say mission accomplished. 'SUPPORT' in Venice to support this wonder of city that is threatened by climate change. I hope my art brings a new focus of attention to a global calamity that we are faced with. Art in 'Support' of art: Venice is now the art capital of the world during the Venice Biennale but the city of art is threatened and needs our help and protection. ------A big thank you to the city of Venice and especially to its Mayor Luigi Brugnaro for believing in this installation from the beginning, to Ca' Sagredo hotel represented by Lorenza Lain (the force of Nature) to C and C architectural Studio, Fulvio Caputo, Marco Zanon, Ufficine delle Zattere, Luisa Flora, Tecmolde, Julio and Irene Luzan and the entire team, She Digital, Grupoo Orseolo with Rein srl and the Gondolieri of Venice. To my super team in Spain at Quinn Creations To my family, my wife and especially my son Anthony for letting me use his hands, and of course to @halcyongallery , representanted by Paul Green, Udi Sheleg and assisted by Shani, Helga and all in the gallery, because without their continued organizational, moral, artistic and financial 'support' none of this could have happened. #biennale2017venezia #biennale2017 #lorenzoquinn #lorenzoquinnartist #venezia #halcyongallery #support #supportart #climatechange

A post shared by Lorenzo Quinn (@lorenzoquinnartist) on

"The hand holds so much power — the power to love, to hate, to create, to destroy," said Quinn in a press release.

A big thank you to all for your comments and likes. It's been overwhelming. I wish I could thank each and everyone of you individually. This sculpture 'Support' placed in Venice at Ca' Sagredo, coinciding with the opening of the Venice Biennale, wants to speak to the people in a clear, simple and direct way through the innocent hands of a child and it evokes a powerful message which is that united we can make a stand to curb the climate change that affects us all. We must all collectively think of how we can protect our planet and by doing that we can protect our national heritage sites... Support our planet support our heritage! A warm hug, Lorenzo THE INSTALLATION WILL BE AT CA' SAGREDO UNTIL NOVEMBER 26th a #halcyongallery #casagredohotelvenice #lorenzoquinn #lorenzoquinnartist #biennale2017 #LorenzoQuinnVenice #support #supportart #worldheritage #worldheritagesite

A post shared by Lorenzo Quinn (@lorenzoquinnartist) on

Venice is an amazing city, but it'll need people's support to survive into the future.

Image from Lorenzo Quinn,

"Venice is a floating art city that has inspired cultures for centuries," said Quinn. "But to continue to do so it needs the support of our generation and future ones, because it is threatened by climate change and time decay."

It's true. Climate change could end up sinking the historic city in less than a century — and Venice isn't the only city in this situation. In response, the city is currently working on a massive flood barrier.

Our history, and our future, truly is in our hands.

We just need to decide what we want to do with them.

By the way, if you want a hands-on project of your own, you can always plant a tree, pen a letter to Congress, or volunteer with your local museum or historical society. Just a thought!

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