Nearly a quarter-century has passed since I lost my cherished Beanie Baby squirrel on a Boston trolley ride, yet it was the first thought that crossed my mind when artist Emilia Evans-Munton described her monumental creation — the world’s largest sock monkey. Reaching an imposing length of nearly 50 feet, this immense soft sculpture was officially recognized by Guinness World Records last year. However, Evans-Munton originally designed it as a tribute to toys abandoned over time, according to the artist.
A recent graduate from the Glasgow School of Art, Evans-Munton completed the sock monkey, dubbed “Remember I’m Still Here” (2025), for the Sculpture and Environmental Art program’s final exhibition. Constructed from corduroy and filled with straw, the piece was displayed in a university parking lot for weeks, enduring the weather and frequent interaction from onlookers. “The giant sock monkey shrank adults to a childlike scale, invoking playful wonder among spectators,” Evans-Munton shared in an email. “Watching people stumble upon it and then lie on it in the sun was one of the highlights!”
Following the degree show, the sculpture was transported to the Field Maneuvers music festival in Norfolk, England, where it became more worn and faded from being hugged, jumped on, and generally played with by the festival-goers. The artist noted that its worn appearance reflected the affection and attention it received, symbolizing how it was ‘left behind by the artist, yet cherished by the audience.’
The inspiration for the artwork came when Evans-Munton rediscovered an old sock monkey she had crafted with her mother and grandmother as gifts for her primary school classmates. “I began to wonder where those monkeys are now,” she said. “Perhaps they are tucked away in an attic or a charity shop, or still cherished by their owners.” After being loved and cleaned, the sock monkey now resides safely in her grandmother’s attic, sparking memories of my own beloved squirrel — tiny in comparison but equally treasured by a young me.
