Le Pouce Grand (The Giant Thumb)

The world’s largest thumb? Maybe? For several years I have been coming to La Defense in Paris on business to meet with customers who are based here, including Vodafone France (SFR). For some reason unknown to me, there is a giant thumb that must be 12m (38 feet) high in the middle of the driveway/square in-between the hotels and office buildings and shopping malls it surrounds. I’m not sure what the meaning is, but it certainly seems like a French Phallic Symbol of Masculinity and Virility Compensating for Something (Napoleonic Complex???)…

(Designed in 1968 and made of Bronze or other natural materials )

Here’s some pictures of me in front of the Thumb on Halloween 2008 just before heading into customer meeting.