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Statue of David Bowie

Coordinates: 51°48′57″N 0°48′43″W / 51.8158°N 0.8119°W / 51.8158; -0.8119
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David Bowie Statue
Earthly Messenger
Map
51°48′57″N 0°48′43″W / 51.8158°N 0.8119°W / 51.8158; -0.8119
LocationMarket Square, Aylesbury
DesignerAndrew Sinclair
TypeStatue
MaterialBronze
Opening date25 March 2018 (2018-03-25)
Dedicated toDavid Bowie

The David Bowie Statue is a bronze sculpture of David Bowie sculpted by Andrew Sinclair and unveiled in 2018 in Market Square, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire by Howard Jones.

Statue

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Bowie as Ziggy Stardust

The statue was unveiled in 2018 in Aylesbury where Bowie debuted his Ziggy Stardust character. Entitled "Earthly Messenger", it is situated in Market Square. It features a likeness of Bowie from 2002 and a selection of his alter egos down the years, with Ziggy at the front. Speakers mounted above the life-size piece play a Bowie song every hour.

Money to create the work was raised through grants and a £100,000 crowdfunding appeal by music promoter David Stopps.[1]

Critical reception

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The statue received mixed reviews. Online art magazine Artlyst described it as "hideous", poorly rendered and not fitting a man (Bowie) who loved fine art. Rob Stringer, CEO of Sony Music, described the statue as “beautiful”.[2]

Vandalism

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Less than 48 hours after the statue was unveiled, it was vandalised. "Feed the homeless first" was written in front of it, "RIP DB" on a wall beside it and a section of the statue was painted on.[3] In October 2018, it was vandalised for a second time with graffiti sprayed onto the statue, some pavements, doors and hoardings.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Musical David Bowie statue unveiled". 25 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  2. ^ "David Bowie Statue Not Fitting A Man Who Loved Fine Art". Artlyst. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Musical David Bowie statue vandalised". 27 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Aylesbury's David Bowie statue vandalised..again". Mix 96. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2019.