Public art goes prehistoric in London

Introducing Rakewell, Apollo’s wandering eye on the art world. Look out for regular posts taking a rakish perspective on art and museum stories.

It is 25 years since the release of Stephen Spielberg’s film adaptation of Jurassic Park, and the dinophiles of London have decided to mark the anniversary in appropriately scary style. The tribute consists of a colossal sculpture of actor Jeff Goldblum, who made his name as the movie’s laconic anti-hero Dr Ian Malcolm.

This statue of Jeff Goldblum’s iconic pose is officially London’s best sight seeing attraction #JurassicPark pic.twitter.com/y8OTMIOvE2

— B-Koceila Lassal (@BelaidKL) July 18, 2018

Depicting Malcolm/Goldblum in the reclining pose he so memorably adopted after being attacked by a dinosaur, the likeness is some 25 feet long and weighs close to 150kg. Indeed, the pop-up monument might be enough to scare off even Jurassic Park’s most fearsome prehistoric inhabitants.

Its appearance in London, however, has prompted almost as many questions as the disappearance of the dinosaurs.

25ft Jeff Goldblum statue pops up in London to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Jurassic Park, which was June 11th, a month ago. Also none of the movie was filmed in London nor is Jeff Goldblum a native of the English capital. So let’s just bask in its nonsensical glory. pic.twitter.com/TKQKozleMn

— Adam Ricard (@Adam1021) July 18, 2018