Moai, or mo‘ai

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Moai figures carved by Rapa Nui people stand tall between 1250 and 1500 on Easter Island in eastern Polynesia. Musée du cinquantenaire (Brussels) reveals the artistry of these monolithic human statues. CapturingReality captures the essence of ancient craftsmanship. Most are still at Rano Raraku, but hundreds were carefully transported to ahu platforms along the island's perimeter. The tallest moai, Paro, soars 10 metres high and weighs an astonishing 82 tonnes. Ahu Tongariki boasts the heaviest moai, weighing 86 tonnes despite its shorter stature. One unfinished sculpture nears completion would have towered at 21 m tall and weighed approximately 270 tonnes. The once-standing moai toppled in the late 18th century due to European contact or tribal conflicts.