The sculpture, on display at a resort in Antigua, is the work of artist Brendan Murphy, who is collected by everyone from Serena Williams to Warren Buffett, and wants to be the next Jeff Koons.
Jaramay Aréf Photography
The 22-foot, 3,000-pound, steel and carbon fiber spaceman, positioned arms up in a V inspired by a signature Michael Jackson pose, did not just land at the end of a pier at the Hodges Bay Resort in Antigua.
The site-specific sculpture, titled The Boonji Spaceman, required three days, 12 men and a crane and custom scaffolding to erect and mount in five feet of solid concrete all designed to withstand up to a Category 4 hurricane.
The commission is the result of a year-long endeavor between artist Brendan Murphy and Christopher Harding, an angel investor, and one of the hotel’s owners.
Most Instagram moments captured on a Caribbean jaunt involve epic sunsets or frothy drinks enjoyed poolside. But luxury resort Hodges Bay Resort & Spa has upped the ante on the shareable “wow factor” with its new monumental, site-specific installation, The Boonji Spaceman by contemporary artist, Brendan Murphy, whose signature spacemen sculptures are coveted by such celebrities as Serena Williams, Robert De Niro, Ryan Gosling and Novak Djokovic. Commissioned by collector and resort co-owner, Christopher Harding, the 22-feet tall, 3,000 pound chrome sculpture is the tallest sculpture of its kind in the Caribbean.
“Originally I said, ‘Let’s do something they can see from space,’” said Murphy, who’s based in Malibu but keeps an industrial team in Miami. “My vision of art is ideas that can really move the needle. I’m in the “wow” business. If I can get people to say, ‘wow,’ I do well.”
The incident caused a manhunt across the Bay of Plenty and Waikato region. He was later located at a property in Hamilton East before appearing at Hamilton District Court on Wednesday, March 24. Curtis was then charged with numerous offences including knowingly using a firearm against a member of police, failing to stop, driving while disqualified, receiving a stolen $120,000 black A8 Audi and charges related to methamphetamine. Curtis pleaded not guilty to all charges and elected a trial by jury. Curtis has been remanded in custody until a crown case review hearing on June 24. A second case review hearing has been set for May 27, with Crown set to consider whether earlier charges faced by Curtis should be joined.