India, April 13 -- A striking new addition to San Francisco's Embarcadero Plaza, a 45-foot statue of a nude woman, is sparking both awe and conversation. Unveiled Thursday evening with a stunning display of music, lights, and performance art, the sculpture, titled R-Evolution, was created by the public art nonprofit Illuminate. Designed to glow at night and give the illusion of breathing through internal motors, the towering figure is meant to symbolise strength and compassion.

The stainless steel figure of a woman which was originally sculpted for Burning Man in 2015 by sculptor Marco Cochrane, is now situated outside the Ferry Building. While some might see the statue as a symbol of empowerment, most of the residents of San Francisco w...