It seems that “A crowdfunding campaign to erect a permanent memorial to David Bowie has been launched by a team of south London designers.”
Now I don’t like the idea myself – do they think prople are going to be interested enough in his work after seeing this that they’ll become fans?
My idea is a Black Star (yes!) in some form or other, perhaps on the pavement somewhere significant. Heddon Street for example, the place where the coer for Ziggy was shot. Any better ideas?
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/29A2/production/_94785601_1bba5282-eb10-4e3c-b5be-e56dc0c347d0.jpg
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-39044933
Crikey it’s a ball ache to start threads on this blog ====>
Hmmmmm.
Actually, I quite like that.
Honestly, I think a classical stone statue atop a 10 foot marble plinth would be dead cool.
After a generation or 2 of developing a nice rain and bird poop patina, no one would know who the gentleman is anymore.
Timeless.
Yebbut statues of people tend to look a bit not-great. I’m in favour of a symbol of some sort myself, and the lightning bolt looks great.
People will see a face with the lightening bolt and think “Harry Potter”, but a ziggy statue near the hammersmith odeon does have a certain cachet. You could have a Lemmy there too; maybe a coule of other figurative statues (Bruce Dickson? The Quo in heads-down boogie mode?).
The thing about Bowie’s brilliant imagery is that it was always changing, so there is not a definitive look, image or font liker there is for some other acts, so much as a multitude of them. Maybe this is a hint to the visual memorial – a multi-faceted reflection of multiple selves (A Lad Insane) which anyone can look into and see a variety of selves. Mirrors, prisms, plays with light so everyone looks beautiful and striking. In Beckenham. Alright then – north of the river.
Letting the guy rest in peace. Good memorial?
I like the lightning bolt, because that was what the man was.
A Cobbler Bob statue, perhaps.
I think the bolt is pretty good – I was anticipating a godawful statue a la Jacko outside Craven Cottage or one of several Freddy Mercurys. It also works in its setting, if you know Brixton. Max Roach has a park there, but in truth it’s pretty dowdy
I do like the notion of a black star, although it may be a little ‘deep’ for Joe Public over time. Perhaps it could be significant in size & on its side, like a pointy monolith ( in a park, perhaps) & therefore work as a picnic table – the sides would have space for couplets from the Dame’s songs.
Alternatively, how about a perpetual motion installation on the 4th Plinth in Trafalgar Square of a little fella ‘ chuckling away, laughing all day’.
Just a thought.
Oh, please yourselves, then.
My daughter lives there so I know the area. There is already a Bowie mural on the wall of the local department store, which has had visitors laying flowers and taking pics every time I’ve been there. It’s beautiful, feels meaningful for those that have a connection and people can stop, or not. But it’s not intrusive and the world still turns all around. I kind of like that.
I have been keeping an eye on the Bowie memorial social media posts so was keen to see the big idea revealed yesterday.
I must admit I was underwhelmed. It’s too big and I think it looks a bit vulgar. And in that really busy street, it’ll be a nightmare to negotiate. A Bowie bronze outside the Ritzy, in the square – now that’s classy ❤️
Lets make the National Anthem “Lets Dance”
Jeez, I think it’s hideous and tacky. A far more tasteful and meaningful memorial is already being (re)developed in Beckenham; thanks to the efforts of tirelessly committed die-hard fans, the Bandstand that was the focal point of the Beckenham Arts Lab Free Festival of 1969 is being restored to its former glory with appropriate commemoration of its most famous troubador. It’s ragged and naive… it will be heaven.
That sounds perfect @black type. I must pay a visit ❤️
I think the work is a fair way from being done, to be honest. From what I know, the council has needed a lot of persuasion to sanction it (d’oh!) and much of the financing is through the fans’ fundraising efforts. But they will get there.