Cupid's Span

Crafted in response to San Francisco’s association with Eros, our Embarcadero park project initially explored the clichéd imagery of Cupid’s bow and arrow. Straying from the conventional, Coosje van Bruggen suggested a bold transformation: inverting the image, with the arrow and bow buried in the ground, spotlighting the often overlooked tail feathers.

This innovative sculpture morphs into a ship and a condensed suspension bridge, seamlessly blending with the site’s surroundings. It acts as a frame, capturing either the cityscape or a panoramic view of the Bay Bridge and distant mountains. Challenging romantic conventions, we wove in the myth of Eros fertilizing the earth with his arrow.

Positioned on a hill, the sculpture gives the impression of the arrow sinking into the plant life. The slanted bow creates a sense of dynamic movement, with the bow-as-boat seemingly navigating towards the city’s Ferry Building when viewed from its “stern.”