DreamSplitLighting
The £1.8m 20metre high Dream sculpture, in the form of a girl's head with her eyes closed, is on the site of the former Sutton Manor Colliery in St Helens.
A group of local ex-miners chose the design, which is made from 90 unique panels of pre-cast concrete.
Spanish artist Jaume Plensa designed the sculpture, which can be seen near junction seven of the M62 motorway.
Mr Plensa, 53, said: "The piece is trying to talk about the future.
"When I first came to the site I immediately thought something coming out of the earth was needed.
"I decided to do a head of a nine-year-old girl which is representing this idea of the future. It's unique. "
His other artworks include a sculpted and illuminated glass dome for the BBC's Broadcasting House in London.
He is also behind the Crown Fountain in the centre of Chicago.
DreamSplitLighting
The £1.8m 20metre high Dream sculpture, in the form of a girl's head with her eyes closed, is on the site of the former Sutton Manor Colliery in St Helens.
A group of local ex-miners chose the design, which is made from 90 unique panels of pre-cast concrete.
Spanish artist Jaume Plensa designed the sculpture, which can be seen near junction seven of the M62 motorway.
Mr Plensa, 53, said: "The piece is trying to talk about the future.
"When I first came to the site I immediately thought something coming out of the earth was needed.
"I decided to do a head of a nine-year-old girl which is representing this idea of the future. It's unique. "
His other artworks include a sculpted and illuminated glass dome for the BBC's Broadcasting House in London.
He is also behind the Crown Fountain in the centre of Chicago.