“Man and Woman” is an 8 meter (26 foot) tall moving steel sculpture by Georgian sculptor Tamara Kvesitadze. Located in the seaside city of Batumi, Georgia, the two figures represent a Muslim boy, Ali, and a Georgian princess, Nino, from a famous 1937 novel by Azerbaijani author Kurban Said. A rough translation of this pseudonym would translate as “someone of sacred descent who has been sacrificed” which is the exact theme of this grand love story. The real author of the book remains unknown to this day. The tragic love story ends with Ali and Nino separated by the invasion of Soviet Russia. This aggression has changed millions of real peoples lives, so the depicted drama might have really happened.

The love statue begins to move every day at 7 p.m., merging for a short embrace, before leaving each other behind. After 10 minutes the movement is complete. The love sculpture was designed in 2007 but only installed in 2010. It has since been retitled “Ali and Nino.” The book was translated into 30 languages, so you can find the English version on Amazon.

More info: tamarastudio.com | Amazon (h/t: demilked, aplus)

Located in Batumi, Georgia, the tragic lovers begin to move every night at 7 p.m.

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The statues are inspired by a love story between a Muslim boy and a Georgian princess who come from different religious backgrounds

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Briefly, “Ali and Nino” embrace, before passing through each other

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Their movement symbolizes the tragic separation of Ali and Nino after the Soviet Invasion

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The mysterious Kurban Said wrote the novel in 1937

Image credits: Rich McClear

To this day, nobody knows the true identity of the author

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Nevertheless, this powerful love story has been translated into more than 30 languages

Image credits: Rich McClear

You can watch a video the statues moving below: