'Creepy' Statue of Drowning Girl Leaves Locals Anxious in Spain's Bilbao

Mexican hyperrealist artist Ruben Orozco, who is known for creating lookalike figures of world legends - including ones of David Bowie and Freddie Mercury - came up with yet another masterpiece that wasn’t really appreciated by some residents of one Spanish city.

A statue of a drowning girl has left many people freaked out in Bilbao, Spain, after they woke up to find a giant face floating in the murky waters of local River Nervion.

The 120 kg statue, created by artist Ruben Orozco and titled ‘Bihar’ (‘Tomorrow’), is a part of a campaign by the BBK Foundation which is set to draw attention to the problem of climate change and promote sustainability.

A fibreglass sculpture entitled 'Bihar' (Tomorrow in Basque), by Mexican hyperrealist artist Ruben Orozco, is submerged in the Nervion river in Bilbao, Spain, September 27, 2021

© REUTERS / VINCENT WEST

Residents can witness each day now how the statue becomes submerged in the water and then is uncovered again as tides rise and fall.

Orozco explained to Nius website that this should remind people of how our actions “can sink us or keep us afloat”.

However, some local residents and social media users found the campaign pretty disturbing – especially if you don’t quite know what it is supposed to promote.

“At first it gave me a feeling of stress, when more of the face was out of the water, but now to me she communicates sadness, a lot of sadness,” Bilbao resident Triana Gil told Reuters.

“She doesn't even look worried, it's as if she is letting herself drown.”

Another passer-by, Maria, said that she initially thought that the statue was devoted to some tragic events and was commemorating a local girl. After learning what the figure was really signifying, she suggested that people could “each give their own meaning to it”.

Bilbao's River Nervion, this statue of a drowning girl appeared last week and it is Freaking people out. 😌

Climate Change is Real. pic.twitter.com/xkgtHEN7Xi

— Reesus Patriot (@ResusCGMedia) September 28, 2021

WOW - I was hoping there was an answer for what that statue means. That's so eerie looking.

— Harleen✴ (@YourMom320xo) September 29, 2021

creepy

— Jarod Khabs (@zofficesofjarod) September 29, 2021

BIHAR, escultura de Rubén Orozco. Puede verse, cuando baja la marea, en la Ría de Bilbao, al lado del puente de Zubizuri. Me encanta la idea. pic.twitter.com/W7pEfh6KNo

— Borja Crespo (@ElTioCreespy) September 26, 2021

Ruben Orozco, an artist from Mexico, is well-known for creating hyper-realist figures of celebrities and ordinary people for social campaigns.

Happy birthday #FreddieMercury #sculpture #hyperrealism pic.twitter.com/XDnPYPYzzH

— Ruben Orozco Loza (@rubenorozcoloza) September 5, 2021