World’s first ever David Bowie statue unveiled in a very unlikely location
Did you think that Aylesbury would be the home to the world’s first David Bowie statue?
Reader, you are sorely mistaken. As of Saturday, the town in Buckinghamshire is now home to a landmark statue – in homage to the fact it was where the artist first debuted Ziggy Stardust.
It is thanks to avid David Bowie fan, David Stopps, that the monument has been created.
The superfan raised £100,000 through a series of grants and a Crowdfunder campaign.
He once launched a petition to rename the town “Aylesbowie” due to the artist’s relationship with the town.
“The reaction to the statue has been so positive,” Mr Stopps said.
David Bowie Earthly Messenger statue unveiled today. Concert @TheWaterside1 tonight! pic.twitter.com/B9i69X5sqn
— Editor (@ValeLifeMag) March 25, 2018
“Since records began there have been 57 variations of the town’s name,” the fan argued in the petition.
Stopps also said that he expects mixed reactions to the statue, but have found people as a whole have been positive about the likeness so far.
“The reaction to the statue has been so positive,” he said to the BBC.
“When you get something like this people either love it or hate it. If people say ‘I hate it’ or ‘I absolutely love it’ then you know it’s real art. That’s the definition of art.”
Featuring several David Bowies in the piece, the statue pays tribute to the series of alter-egos the artist took on over the years, as well as a likeness of the musician himself.
The statue, which has been designed by sculptor Andrew Sinclair, has been moulded on a mask taken of Bowie when he filmed The Man Who Fell to Earth.
Speakers mounted above the life-size piece will play a Bowie song every hour, reports the BBC.
David Bowie, who died of cancer two years ago, is regarded as a queer icon.
Known to perform on stage in dresses and heels, Bowie is credited as being a pioneer in diversifying our understand of gender conformity.
