The American contemporary artist [size=14][red]Jeff Koons[/red][/size] is donating a monumental sculpture of a fistful of tulips to the City of Paris and the people of France to commemorate victims of the recent terrorist attacks there.

This is the first commemorative work Mr. Koons has created and one of his largest sculptures (34 feet high, 27 feet wide and 33 feet deep). “[size=14][red] Bouquet of Tulips [/red][/size]” is meant to echo the hand of the Statue of Liberty, a gift to the United States from France. Currently under construction in Germany, the work, made of bronze, stainless steel and aluminum, will be permanently installed next year in the plaza in front of the Museum of Modern Art and the Palais de Tokyo.

Inspired by floral paintings by Fragonard, Picasso and others, he said that he had chosen the tulips for their “buoyancy,” which he hoped would inspire the families of victims of the attacks to carry on. The mayor of Paris, [size=14][red]Anne Hidalgo[/red][/size], told attendees at the news conference that the sculpture delivered an optimistic message in turbulent times.

The 3.5 million euros ($3.8 million) it will cost to produce and install the work are being raised from private donations by a nonprofit foundation, Fonds Pour Paris, and its counterpart in the United States, the Paris Foundation.