Is this the heaviest map ever? Marble model of Manhattan weighs in at a mighty two-and-a-half TONS
As far as maps go, this one definitely holds its weight.
A scaled model of Manhattan hand carved from a slab of marble tips the scales at an astounding two-and-a-half tons.
The miniature creation of America's most famous skyline, carved by Japanese artist Yataka Sone, has art enthusiasts at a New York City gallery awestruck.
Scroll down for video
Astounding: Yutaka Sone's Little Manhattan marble sculpture, weighs as much as a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI
Precision: Mr Sone used photographic reproductions, imagery from Google Earth, and several helicopter rides to render Manhattan with its skyscrapers, streets, avenues, and the bridges to the east and west to scale
Recently put on display at the David Zwirner gallery in New York, Mr Sone used photographic reproductions, imagery from Google Earth, and several helicopter rides to render Manhattan with its Central Park, skyscrapers, streets, avenues, and the bridges to the east and west to scale.
Little Manhattan, carved between 2007 and 2009, measures 21 3/4 x 104 3/8 x 33 1/2 inches.
And it was the highlight of the exhibit when it opened on September 20, with passers-by noting the painstaking precision with which Mr Sone carved the city's every building and sloping street.
The exhibition marks Mr Sone's fifth solo showing since his first exhibition at the gallery in 1999. The current exhibition also includes other marble works and sculptures of trees made predominantly from rattan.
Long haul: The scaled model took two years to carve
On display: Yutaka Sone: Island at David Zwirner in New York opened earlier this month and runs until October 29
Attention to detail: A tiny model of Manhattan's Central Park lies amongst miniature marble skyscrapers
Mr Sone was born in 1965 in Shizuoka, Japan.
He studied architecture at the Tokyo Geijutsu University. The artist predominantly works in sculpture, but also uses painting, drawing, photography, video, and performance as means of expression.
His work was shown in a number of group exhibitions in the U.S. and abroad,
Yutaka Sone: Island at David Zwirner in New York runs until October 29, 2011.
Watch video here
Most watched News videos
- Terrifying moment driver overtakes van and narrowly avoids crash
- Sally Nugent hilariously finds out 'hedgehog' is a hat bobble
- Camilla hands out gifts at Royal Maundy ceremony on behalf of King
- Queen Camilla greets children after traditional Maundy service
- Starmer and Rayner embrace as they launch election campaign
- Three men seen running out of Beckenham station after knife attack
- British man fighting for Putin posts video from Russia online
- 'Satan took over me': Hamas terrorist confesses of raping woman
- Tourist is filmed napping in his tent on the beach with a crocodile
- Hilarious moment King's Guard shout 'make way' at pigeons in London
- Russian plane spiralling out of control crashes in sea in Crimea
- Police tape off Kennington station after 'multiple stabbings'