'Flying Pins' in Eindhoven, Netherlands

A large sculpture of a bowling ball and pins is located in Eindhoven, near the main train station and the Eindhoven University of Technology. The 8.5-meter-tall sculpture, called Flying Pins, was created by pop artist couple Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. It was erected in 2000 as part of the city's millennium celebrations. The sculpture is made of fiberglass and plastic and cost around 1.1 million euros, funded by local businesses. Unlike many of the artists' other works, Flying Pins is an outdoor installation. The sculpture is intended to represent its surroundings, with the Kennedylaan road resembling a bowling lane. The yellow color of the pins is meant to match the daffodils that bloom in the area during spring. The municipality sees the sculpture as a symbol of the city's innovative spirit, reflecting its history as the birthplace of tech giants Philips and ASML. The sculpture is meant to blend in with its surroundings, rather than standing out as a separate entity. Overall, Flying Pins is a unique and eye-catching addition to the city's landscape.