King Kong set to reign in Leeds despite public uproar

AN 18ft statue of King Kong, which was once admired by the people of Birmingham is going on public display in Leeds as part of an exhibition.

The fibreglass statue which was constructed by English pop art sculptor, print-maker and art teacher Nicholas Monro will form part of a new exhibition at the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds.

Having been repainted in its original colours, the current owners have loaned the 890kg statue and the artist’s orginal mock-up to the Institute until February next year when the exhibition comes to an end.

Originally commissioned in 1972 as part of the City Sculpture Project which saw sculptures installed in eight cities in England and Wales, King Kong once stood tall outside the iconic Bullring shopping centre.

Although the statue was only at Birmingham’s Manzoni Gardens for six months in the 1970s, King Kong became a popular attraction and has had a lasting impression on the locals.

The statue was so well-loved that many have voiced their opinions via Twitter and a campaign has now been launched to stop King Kong being sold.