Victor's Way (previously Victoria's Way), located near Roundwood, County Wicklow, Ireland, is a privately owned meditation garden notable for its black granite sculptures.[1] The 9-hectare property includes a number of small lakes and forested areas.

Victor's Way
Ganesha statue, Victor's Way
Ganesha statue in Victor's Way, with Sugar Loaf mountain in background.
Map
TypeSculpture and philosophy park[1]
Locationnear Roundwood, County Wicklow, Ireland
Coordinates53°05′09″N 6°13′11″W / 53.085765°N 6.219654°W / 53.085765; -6.219654
Area9 hectares
Owned byVictor Langheld
StatusOpen during summer months[2]
CollectionsStatues
Websitewww.victorsway.eu

The park

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The park closed in 2015 as Victoria's Way with the owner stating "Too may day-trippers came turned it into a fun park for parents with children. It was designed as a contemplative garden for over 28's." but was then re-opened under its original name Victor's Way on 15 April 2016, with new age restrictions and higher entrance fee.[3][4]

The park is open to the public during the summer months.[2] A plaque by the entrance says the park is dedicated to cryptographer Alan Turing.

Sculptures

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Most of the park's statues are made of black granite, with some in bronze and range in height from 1.5m to 4.9m.[5] The first structure by the entrance is a sculpted tunnel based on the idea of vagina dentata. The first statue added to the park was the fasting Buddha.[6]

Eight statues are dedicated to Ganesha, showing the elephant god dancing, reading, and playing musical instruments.[7] All the Ganesha sculptures were made in Tamil Nadu, India, and each took five craftsmen a year to make.[8]

Other statues include a large python-shaped seat, a solitary index finger pointing at the sky, and interpretations of Buddha, Shiva, Eve, and others.

Many of the sculptures include small motifs of modernity, such as a small pint of Guinness beside a Ganesha and a mobile telephone tucked into the back of a starving Buddha.[9]

Ownership

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The park is owned and maintained by Victor Langheld, who was born in 1940 in Berlin and has lived with a number of different religious orders in India, Thailand, Japan, and Sri Lanka.[10] Family inheritance allowed Langheld to spend most of his adult life travelling to spiritual sites in Asia, before travelling to Ireland and sponsoring the construction of the sculpture park.[citation needed]

Langheld designed most of the sculptures,[8] and continues to curate the park and welcome visitors.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Victor's way Indian sculpture park Roundwood Co. Wicklow Ireland by Martin Varghese/IvisionIreland". youtube.com. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Victor's Way Opening Times & Access". victorsway.eu. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Victor's Way Q&A answers by Victor Langheld". tripadvisor.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Victoria's Way - Originally Victor's Way (1:58s)". youtube. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  5. ^ Victoria's Way, Spiritual Sculpture Park Archived 21 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Victoria's Way - First Statue (2:33s)". youtube. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  7. ^ "The Irish Ganesh Exhibition, @ Victoria's Way, Roundwood, Co Wicklow". Archived from the original on 22 November 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  8. ^ a b David Kenny's Erindipity[dead link]
  9. ^ Wicklow Daily Photo: Indian Sculpture Park VI
  10. ^ Victor, of Victoria's Way Archived 24 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
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