A Huge Sculpture of Homer Simpson and Ancient Greek Poet Homer Has Popped Up on the Gold Coast
The five-metre-tall inflatable artwork is on display in Helensvale as part of this year's Swell Sculpture Festival.
Homer Simpson has arrived in southeast Queensland. He's a cartoon character, so obviously there's a twist. Thanks to the 2021 Swell Sculpture Festival, the doughnut-loving, Duff beer-drinking, "d'oh!"-exclaiming animated dad is making an appearance as part of a sculpture called Homer Homer, which is on display until Sunday, September 19.
This isn't any old likeness of the character, though. Rather, it's a five-metre-tall inflatable version. And, it combines his yellow-hued face with that of another famous Homer: the Ancient Greek poet, who is presumed to have written the Iliad and the Odyssey.
The top half, including those sparse strands of hair, is all Simpson. The bottom half is inspired by a bust of his namesake. So, it really does look like a huge statue. Combined together, the piece is the work of Danger Dave, founder of art collective Cool Shit, which has a history of toying with popular culture in big, blow-up works.
If you've seen The Rock Rock — which combines Dwayne Johnson's face with a massive monolith — you'll know what the aptly titled Homer Homer is all about. Or, you might've heard of Snoop Dogg Hot Dogs, which pairs up the hip hop star with a fast food staple. Other Cool Shit pieces include Nicolas Cage in a Cage, Tina Turner Prize and Happy Kanye, because being playful is definitely part of the remit here.
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At this year's Swell Sculpture Festival, Homer Homer is on the event's Northerlyswell pop-up program — so, while the bulk of the fest takes over Currumbin Beach, you'll get your Simpsons-meets-Ancient Greece fix at the Helensvale Library and Cultural Centre.
And yes, it has been a busy year or so for super-sized odes to pop culture around Australia. Clearly, if a giant Borat statue can take over Bondi Beach and an 18-storey portrait of Nicole Kidman can hover above Darlinghurst — both of which happened in 2020 — then a huge sculpture of Homer Simpson is just the next step.
Homer Homer is on display at Swell Sculpture Festival's Northerlyswell pop-up program, which is taking place at the Helensvale Library and Cultural Centre, Helensvale Plaza, Corner Lindfield Road and Sir John Overall Drive, Helensvale until Saturday, September 19. It's available to view on weekdays only from 9am–4pm.
Top image: Shey Simon Laplanche.
