Rhino set to give Bully the horn in Birmingham’s landmark battle

AN eye-catching piece of public art set to rival Birmingham’s famous bronze bull has been erected as a centrepiece to the city’s Southside district.

The sculpture, a life-size rhinoceros, dubbed the ‘Rhinestone Rhino’, has been installed at the junction of Hurst Street and Bromsgrove Street in the centre of the Gay Village.

Unveiled by members of the Southside Business Improvement District and Birmingham LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community, the BID project hopes to encourage additional footfall and trade in the area.  

The venture is the result of collaboration between Birmingham City Council, Birmingham LGBT, GB Training Ltd and Southside Business Improvement District (BID), which incorporates Birmingham’s Gay Village, Chinatown and theatre districts.

Julia Chance, Southside BID manager, said: “The Rhino looks fantastic and it was really exciting to launch it after all the hard work that has gone into the project over the last four years.

“Birmingham’s Gay Village is an important contributor to the local economy and this art project is the latest in a string of improvements that have been made to the area in recent years.”

The sculpture, which has cost £15,000, including a £10,000 grant from Birmingham City Council, depicts a life-size rhinoceros adorned with jewels, represented by mirrorwork and replica gemstones. Its unveiling was timed to coincide with the 2012 Birmingham Pride festival.

The rhinoceros was selected as it symbolises strength and was originally a symbol of the gay rights movement in the United States, while its gleaming surface is said to reflect Birmingham’s rich jewellery-making heritage.

BID organisers hope the artwork will become a symbol of the city, much like the famous bronze bull, and build upon the city’s existing reputation as a visitor destination.