More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A head-turning sculpture of music legend Tina Turner is about to be revealed at a Kent amusement park.
The enormous inflatable is being installed at Dreamland as Margate celebrates hosting the 2019 Turner Prize later this year.
Standing at seven metres tall, the artwork will house a karaoke booth so fans of the singer, who turns 80 this year, can belt out their favourite hits.
The work has been produced by the London-based team behind the Happy Kanye display which has toured across the UK including at Bestival in 2017.
A grand unveiling next Thursday will launch the sculpture as Dreamland's contribution to the Turner Prize - named after the English painter JMW Turner - which comes to the town in September.
The reveal at the park is also kicking off the Tiina Turner Prize - a competition to find a new Tina Turner-themed work of art to adorn Dreamland’s Mural by The Sea billboard.
Eddie Kemsley, chief executive of Dreamland, said: "Turner Prize 2019 is one of the biggest events to come to Margate – so we responded in kind.
"Margate is a haven for internationally renowned artists and the Turner Contemporary is at the heart of the town’s cultural evolution.
"But Margate is also – and always has been – delightfully kitsch, fun and a trendsetter.
"So we wanted to create a work of art at Dreamland that would complement the Turner Prize exhibition – by offering visitors another anchor point of interest – and also show the alternative, modern and wonderfully camp side of Margate’s arts scene.
"We’re thrilled to be honouring one of music’s greatest icons with a piece of fan art that thousands of people will be able to engage with and enjoy for free."
The artists behind the sculpture have also immortalised other celebrities in inflatables inlcuding Snoop Dogg, Nicholas Cage and Lionel Richie.
The Tina Turner head will stand tall during the Margate Pride parade on Saturday, August 10 through the town centre.
The Tiina Turner prize opens on the same day and is open to any artist who wishes to submit a proposal.
Artists will be shortlisted by the end of August, and the finalists’ proposals will be put to a public vote, giving Dreamland’s guests the final say on who is the winner.
The winning work will be on display from October through to January 2020.
