82 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {landmark} words and photography by BOB SIEGEL If you’ve made the drive down University Avenue towards the Dumbarton Bridge in recent months, you probably noticed a giant modernist sculpture at the edge of an empty field. It looks a bit like liquid mercury with its shiny, silvery color, and fluid, rounded surfaces. Not only is the shape intriguing, but so is the apparent incongruity of the location. If you tried to capture an image of it, you might have found that the sculpture is more adept at capturing you, as its undulating surface acts like a funhouse mirror, reflecting you in myriad orientations and distortions. Composed of stainless steel and standing an imposing 18 feet high, it originally debuted at the Burning Man festival in Nevada in 2019, where it conjured up the image of a shimmering mirage in the desert. It’s called Talking Heads, and it’s the work of local artist Oleg Lobykin. Born in Russia, Oleg lives in East Palo Alto— so the sculpture found a fitting temporary home. If you’re wondering why it’s gone missing in 2025, Oleg says Talking Heads recently found a new home in San Francisco at Patricia’s Green Park. A highly creative sculptor and stone craftsman, Oleg is also responsible for the statues of Benjamin Franklin and Johannes Gutenberg that adorn the front of the Stanford University Quad. That’s not Oleg’s only contribution to the Quad. He’s also involved in the ongoing restoration of its sandstone architecture. People are likely to have their own interpretations of Talking Heads. This intriguing landmark awaits yours. talking heads
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