Art sometimes appears in the most unexpected forms and with the most extraordinary stories. The work of Glasgow School of Art graduate artist Emilia Evans-Munton carries precisely such a story: a gigantic sock monkey sculpture that has entered the Guinness World Records. Yet this piece draws attention not only for its size, but also for the emotional depth behind it and the artist’s personal memories. Evans-Munton describes her enormous monkey as “a tribute to the toys we leave behind,” inviting viewers to reflect on childhood memories, loss, and the feeling of belonging.
Measuring approximately 15 metres in length, this colossal soft sculpture was officially certified by Guinness World Records last year. However, Evans-Munton stresses that the true purpose of the work was never to break a record; rather, it serves as a homage to the toys abandoned and forgotten in childhood. This statement adds profound meaning to the piece beyond its physical presence. Almost everyone has a toy somewhere in their childhood that was left behind, perhaps lost forever—and this work revives the longing for those toys and the emotional bond we formed with them.
Freshly graduated from the Glasgow School of Art, Evans-Munton created this sock monkey—titled Remember I’m Still Here (2025)—for the degree show of the Sculpture & Environmental Art programme. Made of velvet fabric and stuffed with straw, the sculpture was exhibited for weeks in the university building’s rear car park. During that time, it was exposed both to the elements and to regular interaction from visitors. The artist explains that leaving the work open to external influences in this way emphasised its “reality” and “lived experience.” The sculpture transcends being merely an artwork and becomes a space of experience.
In an email, Evans-Munton writes: “The sheer scale of the sock monkey reduced adults to a childlike size, sparking childlike play and curiosity among viewers.” “One of the most beautiful things was seeing people walking down the hill on their way to daily tasks spot the piece from the doors, get excited, and come lie in the sun on top of it!” These words show that art is more than something to be observed—it is something to interact with, experience, and even become part of. The sculpture transforms passive observers into active participants.
After the degree show, Evans-Munton took the work to the Field Maneuvers music festival in Norfolk, England. There, people hugged it, jumped on it, embraced it, and played with it in general—leaving it even dirtier, faded, and worn in places. The artist emphasises that this “deterioration” proved just how much it had been played with and loved: “literally left behind by the artist, but loved by the audience.” This transformation enriches the piece’s story and adds new layers. The wear and ageing become part of the work, serving as evidence of the bond formed with it.
The artist explains that the concept emerged after she encountered an old sock monkey she had once made as a farewell gift for all the girls in her primary school class, together with her mother and grandmother. “I started wondering where they are now,” Evans-Munton says. “Sock monkeys are still out there—perhaps in an attic, or at a charity shop, or maybe still being loved and cared for.” This personal memory gives the work a universal dimension. Everyone has something from childhood that continues to exist somewhere, though its fate is unknown. This piece reminds us of the stories of those objects and the enduring strength of the bonds we formed with them.
After being loved and then washed, the work now rests safely in the artist’s grandmother’s attic. This suggests that the journey of the piece is far from over—it may yet open the door to new stories and experiences in the future. Emilia Evans-Munton’s Remember I’m Still Here is not merely a Guinness World Record holder; it is a powerful example of how art can intertwine with personal memories, universal emotions, and social interaction. The work reminds us that even things left behind still exist somewhere—and that love can create a bond that transcends time and place.
