WHY THIS ARTWORK IS MAKING A SPLASH

The gigantic statue on the banks of the Thames

Tuesday September 18,2007

By Julia White for express.co.uk

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VISITORS to the south bank of the Thames today might be excused for thinking the river has burst its banks.

For a gigantic, statue of a man can be seen there swimming through the grassy verge.

The 46-feet long and 10-feet high athlete has been catching the eye of countless passing admirers.

But this isn't the latest Turner Prize entry or a multi-million pound attempt to encourage swimming in the capital.

Bizarrely, this life-like structure is designed to promote tattoos.

Beckham's tattoo

The giant swimmer has a large design on his back which is there to advertise a new reality TV show.

London Ink, which will appear on the Discovery Channel, aims to prove that body art is not just for a certain type of person.

David Beckham's personal tattooist Louis Molloy is responsible for the picture of a Koi Carp lying on a bed of traditional fish and chips on the statue's back and is also the star of the programme.

The aim of the London Ink show is to change the stereotype of tattoos as only being for criminals and sailors.

Louis Malloy

Mr Molloy, who created the famous ‘guardian angel’ on Beckham's back, said: “The aim of the London Ink show is to make tattoos mainstream and change the stereotype of tattoos as only being for criminals and sailors.

The life-like swimmer near London Bridge is made out reinforced polystyrene and is hand painted to resemble human flesh.

In a week’s time, a similar statue will be installed on the concourse at Victoria Station, featuring a giant woman trying to squeeze into a photo booth whose top rides up to reveal a tattoo of a pigeon.

The pieces of art will remain in place for a few weeks before being moved to different locations across the UK.

Malloy with the statue

Mr Malloy added: “The huge statue is sure to be a major draw for tourists and Londoners, and get tattooing out in the mainstream.”

A spokeswoman for The Discovery Channel said: “We created these because we want people to interact with them. We want people to get out their camera phones and take pictures of them, and of their friends with them. We want to create a real stir.”