Statues of Michael Jackson Vanish

Monuments to a Faded Kingdom: The Strange Afterlife of Michael Jackson’s Giant Statues

Thirty years ago, a series of colossal figures paying homage to Michael Jackson appeared across different continents. These monuments, tied to his 1995 album, have since embarked on their own peculiar journeys. In the summer of that year, an unusual spectacle unfolded in London when a gigantic sculpture of the pop icon journeyed on a vessel, navigating the capital's main waterway. This act marked the beginning of an ambitious and unusual promotional tour.

The pop effigy, which measured an imposing 32 feet, was merely one of a set of ten that materialised in different cities worldwide. Their purpose was to herald the arrival of HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, the superstar's latest record. These titans, fashioned from fibreglass, later accompanied the musician on his international concert series, silent sentinels to a global phenomenon.

Now, three full decades later, and sixteen years following his passing, the late singer remains a figure of intense public debate. While the man is gone, a number of his statues stubbornly persist, standing defiantly in surprising global locations, each with a unique tale to tell of its survival and the complex legacy of the artist it represents.

The Genesis of the Giants

The vast promotional effort supported Jackson's ambitious double album. The record itself was a blend of his most celebrated songs and fifteen new compositions. Among the new tracks was Earth Song, a powerful anthem that would go on to dominate the UK music charts, holding the top position for six weeks. The album has since sold over 20 million copies globally, placing it among the top-selling records ever released.

The creative process for the statues began in America. A sculptor named Diana Walczak worked directly with the popular musician to fashion a clay model. This model was then subjected to a digital scan to produce the album's artwork.

A Sony representative then contacted Stephen Pyle, an artist based in Hertfordshire with experience building sets for international stagings of The Phantom of the Opera. Pyle received a request to construct ten immense statues that replicated the album's cover image.

A Factory for Monoliths

To realise this grand vision, Stephen Pyle enlisted the expertise of Derek Howarth, a skilled sculptor. Howarth’s role was to shape the monument from pieces of polystyrene. Pyle and his team then used these polystyrene sections to create the necessary moulds and subsequent fibreglass casts. This method allowed for the replication required to produce the full set of ten giants.

The entire assembly process happened inside a workshop at Elstree Studios, which is in Hertfordshire, operated by Chris and Liz Clark. Here, the various fibreglass sections were pieced together and meticulously painted to simulate the appearance of stone, giving them a sense of permanence and grandeur.

Notably, the crew completed their work without having the prototype from Ms. Walczak to reference. This lack of a direct reference model is why their creations had a slightly different appearance. The pressure to complete the project was immense.

Pyle himself acknowledged the difficulty of the undertaking. He stated that producing ten of these massive sculptures in a span of just four months presented a significant hurdle. He credited his workshop collaborators, including Howarth, and the Clarks, for their collective effort, which turned their operation into a highly effective production line for these massive figures of the pop star.

The Dispersal of the Titans

Once completed, the statues were dispatched to different global locations, becoming temporary landmarks. One famously made a dramatic appearance in Paris, while another was craned into position in Berlin's Alexanderplatz. Others were sited in Milan, Prague, and Zurich as part of the extensive promotional campaign.

The final destinations of several of these ten figures remain unknown. It is widely believed that a number of them were either dismantled and destroyed after the promotional tour concluded or have been consigned to long-term storage, their locations undisclosed.

However, a handful have managed to evade this fate. A number of them have stayed in public view, often in the most curious and unanticipated of settings, from abandoned theme parks to the courtyards of defunct nightclubs. Their continued existence offers a strange and compelling postscript to one of music's most audacious marketing campaigns.

A Dutch Landmark

For a long time, a monument honouring the so-called King of Pop stood prominently over the parking area of a McDonald's restaurant situated in the Dutch community of Best. This unlikely juxtaposition of pop art and fast food became a point of interest for both fans and the casually curious.

The proprietor of the establishment, Peter Van Gelder, acquired the colossal figure in 1996. He procured the sculpture, originally from Sony, during a charity function held to benefit the Ronald McDonald Children's Fund. His initial motivation was purely practical.

Van Gelder explains that his goal was to use it as a striking landmark, as the eatery had recently opened and was still missing its large, yellow 'M' sign. His instincts proved correct, and the statue quickly became a local landmark.

A Memorial in the Netherlands

The statue's presence in Best did not go unnoticed by Michael Jackson's devoted fanbase. Soon, admirers started gathering at the location, taking photographs and listening to his music. The gatherings became so regular that Peter needed to install a fence around the figure to prevent individuals from attempting to scale it.

The location evolved into something more than just a quirky landmark. Annually, on the anniversary of Jackson's birth and the date of his death, the spot transformed into a memorial. Fans would congregate there to listen to his work, affix photos, and lay down bouquets.

This yearly tradition continued for years, cementing the statue's place in the hearts of many European fans. It was a testament to the enduring power of Jackson's music and the deep connection he forged with his audience, a connection that outlasted the original promotional purpose of the statue itself.

The Shadow of Controversy

Circumstances shifted in 2019. The release of the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, which presented fresh accusations concerning the sexual abuse of children involving Jackson, sent shockwaves across the world and prompted a widespread re-evaluation of his legacy.

Peter clarified that the public reaction within the Netherlands was less severe, and he had originally planned to let the figure remain. However, the decision was ultimately taken out of his hands.

He mentioned that directives originating from the fast-food corporation’s American head office resulted in its relocation. It is now kept in a concealed place, bringing an end to its long and storied tenure as a public landmark.

The Corporation's Stance

In response to inquiries, a spokesperson for McDonald's confirmed the company's position. After the documentary was released in 2019, a decision was made to take the statue down.

The company's official statement affirmed its commitment to ensuring every visitor has a pleasant experience at their locations. The firm felt that the continued presence of the statue could be problematic for some patrons in light of the controversy.

For his part, Peter Van Gelder remains hopeful that the statue can find a new, public home. He hopes to give the sculpture to a fan group, but its substantial size requires a specific building permit. While many groups have expressed interest, he reports that none have managed to obtain the necessary paperwork.

Image Credit - BBC

A Fading Fascination

Van Gelder has observed a noticeable decline in public fascination with the sculpture as time has gone on since Jackson's passing. The once-vibrant focal point for fans now lies dormant, hidden from public view. The colossal Michael Jackson figure now sits concealed beneath a covering inside a nondescript outbuilding, its future uncertain.

Despite the challenges, Van Gelder is resolute that the statue will not be destroyed. He considers it his duty to preserve it and is patiently waiting for a suitable new home to emerge. The search for a new location has explored several avenues, including a proposal to place it in a new neighbourhood in Almere where streets are named after pop stars, but this was ultimately halted due to the controversy surrounding the singer.

The Austrian Outlier

Among the most surprising locations for a Jackson statue is the outdoor area of a defunct nightclub. This club, named The Baby'O, is in a little community located roughly 18 miles (30km) west of the Austrian capital, Vienna. For years, this giant likeness of the singer was a surprising feature of the local nightlife.

Its current custodian, Franz Josef Zika, obtained the figure through a 1998 radio-hosted charitable auction in a fundraising event for the Red Cross. His winning bid for the enormous piece of pop memorabilia was 150,000 in Austrian Schillings, equivalent to £9,300.

The purchase was not initially met with universal approval. Zika recounts telling his uncle, the head of the family, about the purchase, who responded by telling him he was out of his mind.

A Nightclub Attraction

Despite his family's initial scepticism, Franz saw the statue as a fantastic marketing tool for his establishment. Guests at a club called The Baby'O, located in Judenau-Baumgarten, might have been taken aback to see Michael Jackson situated in the designated smoking space, but it quickly became an integral part of the venue's identity.

He notes that several bars were positioned near the statue, creating a festive atmosphere right around Jackson. The monument became a popular backdrop for photos and a conversation piece for the club's clientele, fulfilling its owner's vision.

However, the nightclub had to shut down its operations last year following the construction of new housing nearby. This left the statue's future in doubt, along with that of the venue it had called home for over two decades.

A Monument for Sale

With the closure of his nightclub, Franz is searching for someone to establish a small café or pizzeria on the property, but the large pop monument must be relocated first. He reported that he has spent two years attempting to secure a purchaser for it.

His asking price is €25,000 (which is about £21,000). He mentioned that there has been some preliminary interest from prospective buyers in Hungary; however, the primary issue is that interested parties lack sufficient funds.

When asked what he would do if a purchaser cannot be found, he jokingly suggests dispatching it to Mars and that Elon Musk could handle it for him. This lighthearted comment belies the genuine challenge he faces in finding a new home for this unique piece of pop culture history.

The Swiss Survivor

For over half a century, a yearly fairground event, which is called Luna Park, is held in Lausanne, Switzerland. Another Jackson figure resides among the flashing lights and vividly painted attractions of this event.

This one received a minor cosmetic update, which included applying gold paint to its simulated military attire.

The event's organizers explained to the BBC that they procured it in 2008 from a person who, many years prior, had bought it from Sony. The figure has been out of public view for several years, though they do not specify the reason. They do, however, make it clear the item is not available for purchase.

The Johannesburg Giant

When his HIStory tour came to South Africa, it was accompanied by one of the set of ten figures. After the tour concluded, Jackson provided the statue to the South African National Tuberculosis Association (SANTA). It was subsequently placed in Santarama Miniland, a park which first opened its gates during the 1970s in Johannesburg to present a miniature version of the nation.

The park is currently derelict. The park’s features have been taken away and its small train is no longer operational. Yet, a refurbished monolith of MJ continues to stand, which one can see on satellite pictures from Google Earth.

A Strange Spectacle in Miniland

Heather Mason, a blogger at 2summers.net, explored the park during 2013. She remembers that it was highly peculiar to encounter a massive, blue-colored Michael Jackson sculpture right in the center of Miniland, a place where the prevailing concept is for everything to be diminutive, rather than being life-sized or bigger.

Despite the incongruity, she definitely enjoyed it. Mason considered the MJ sculpture the premier photo opportunity within the park. Her account captures the surreal and somewhat poignant nature of the statue's existence in its current home. In 2012, local fans restored the base of the statue and planted new grass around it.

Image Credit - BBC

The Italian Job: A Restoration and a Sale

At Europark Idroscalo Milano, in June of 2019, a "refurbished" figure was revealed after a flash mob performance centered on Jackson. This grand presentation occurred just a few months after the documentary titled Leaving Neverland was released.

A speaker at the event told the assembled crowd the figure was dedicated to everyone who has continued to show him affection over time. This particular statue has had a turbulent history. A representative from the park explained to the BBC that the sculpture was procured after the tour concluded but was left in a state of neglect for a long time before it was brought to the park.

The spokesperson indicated that the behemoth's face remained hidden for a period after the child abuse claims emerged. This was because the park's management were keen to avoid any impression that the park was a place where MJ greeted children, so they altered it to resemble a robot. Nevertheless, despite the effort invested in refurbishing and repainanting the sculpture, the current proprietors of the park have listed the renovated statue for sale.

A Legacy Cast in Fibreglass

The journey of these giant statues mirrors the complex and contested legacy of the man they were built to honour. From their creation as bold marketing tools for a global superstar at the peak of his fame, to their current, scattered existence in various states of repair, veneration, and neglect, they tell a story of monumental ambition and subsequent controversy.

The journey of these fibreglass titans is a topic of continued interest. While some have been quietly removed from public view, others continue to stand as silent, and often surreal, reminders of a pop culture phenomenon. They are relics of a bygone era, monuments to a king whose reign remains a subject of fierce debate, their own histories still being written in the unique places they now reside.