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Mano del Desierto

Mano del Desierto is a sculpture located 75 km south of Antofagasta, Chile, beside Route 5 Panamericana. Created by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal, it was built in reinforced concrete and stands 11 meters tall. The work was inaugurated on 28 March 1992, with construction funded by the Corporación Pro Antofagasta, which also handles its maintenance and cleaning. Because it is often covered in graffiti, it requires regular upkeep. The sculpture invites personal interpretation: some see it as the city bidding farewell to travelers, while others read it as a memorial to victims of injustice and torture during the military dictatorship of 1973–1990. It is also a tourist stop for those traveling along the Pan-American Highway.

Mano del Desierto rising from a barren desert landscape at dusk with distant mountains on the horizon.
The Mano del Desierto sculpture stands against a twilight desert sky with mountains in the distance.
September 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mano del Desierto sculpture lit against a star-filled night sky, with two people standing in front of it.
Mano del Desierto rises under a dramatic starry sky, with two silhouetted visitors in the foreground.
September 2018 © · CC BY 4.0
The Mano del Desierto sculpture silhouetted against a star-filled night sky and the Milky Way.
The Mano del Desierto rises into a clear night sky with the Milky Way glowing above it.
September 2018 © · CC BY 4.0
La Mano del Desierto silhouetted against a star-filled night sky and the Milky Way.
La Mano del Desierto stands in silhouette beneath a brilliant Milky Way sky.
September 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mano del Desierto sculpture under arcing star trails in the night sky.
Mano del Desierto photographed beneath bright star trails.
September 2018 © · CC BY 4.0

Identification

TitleMano del Desierto
Alternative namesHand of the Desert; A Mão do Deserto; Рука́ пусте́лі
TypeLarge-scale sculpture
Original titleLa Mano del desierto

Historical context

Year created1992
Inauguration date28 March 1992

Creator

ArtistMario Irarrázabal
Artist nationalityChilean

Discovery and provenance

FundingFinanced by Corporación Pro Antofagasta
Caretaker organizationAssociation for Antofagasta

Physical characteristics

Depicted formA left human hand emerging from the ground by about three-quarters
Height11 m

Materials

MaterialReinforced concrete on a steel frame

Location and ownership

ElevationAbout 1,100 m above sea level
LocationAtacama Desert near Antofagasta, Antofagasta Region, Chile, beside Route 5 (Pan-American Highway)
Distance from highwayAbout 400–450 m from Route 5
Distance from AntofagastaAbout 75 km south of the city

Appearance

VisibilityVisible from a long distance from the road

Iconography and meaning

MeaningInterpretations include human injustice, loneliness, grief and torment; a farewell to the traveler; victims of injustice and torture during the 1973–1990 military dictatorship; and a warning against environmental wrongdoing
Large size symbolismEmphasizes human vulnerability and helplessness

Other

Touristic significanceTourist attraction and stop for travelers on Route 5; popular filming location featured in commercials and music videos
AccessReached from Antofagasta via Route 28 to Route 5 at La Negra, then south on Route 5 and a dirt road toward the sculpture
Nearby reference pointCiudad Empresarial La Negra
Road marker locationBetween highway kilometer markers 1309 and 1310
Related works by the same artistSimilar sculptures in Playa Brava in Punta del Este, Juan Carlos I Park in Madrid, Puerto Natales, and Venice

History and restoration

ConditionOften covered with graffiti
MaintenanceRegularly cleaned by authorities and by Association for Antofagasta; a cleanup was organized in 2013 for World Tourism Day with 20 volunteers