Artist Jeff Koons to give sculpture to Paris to honor victims of terrorist attacks

US artist Jeff Koons on Monday announced he would give Paris a Bouquet of Tulips sculpture as an offering of remembrance for the victims of the November 2015 jihadist attacks, Paris city hall said.

The monumental work, which has yet to be built, will be 10 meters high, and be made of bronze, stainless steel and aluminum.

The sculpture will represent a huge hand holding out a multicolored bouquet of tulips, the contemporary artist said at the US embassy in Paris, a statement said.

Once it is completed in 2017, it will be set up in front of the City of Paris Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo building.

The sculpture will cost some 3 million euros ($ 3.2 million) to make. Financing will come from private donors in the US and France.

Koons said the sculpture was designed as an offering in memory of the victims and as a symbol of optimism, in an effort to help Paris overcome the tragedy that struck on November 13 last year.

In a string of coordinated attacks by Islamic State group jihadists, 130 people were killed that day.

According to Koons, the hand is meant to mimic the Statue of Liberty holding its torch.

“The fact that this great artist has decided to offer to the city of Paris... a monumental artwork is a symbol of generosity and sharing, and shows our capital’s ties with the United States are unbreakable,” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said.