Nordeste

This sculpture, by Joaquín Vaquero Turcios, is called as 'Nordeste'. It is named for the north-east wind to which it is exposed at its location next to Gijon's Santa Catalina headland. Like many sculptures and much street furniture in Gijón, it has a rust coverered surface. Apparently this is due to the steel having a particular chemical composition that allows it to form a layer of rust on the surface that is impenetrable, preventing rust from penetrating deeper, yet giving the steel an interesting patina.