King Kong back where he belongs - unveiling day!
![King Kong back where he belongs - unveiling day!](../uploadedfiles/../uploadedfiles/IMG_6218b_KONG.jpg)
Following all the excitement, Friday 22nd July, 2022 was finally here. Crowds gathered for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Yes, King Kong is back in the city, and he's even bigger than before!
Enjoy our wonderful gallery of photos compiled with the help of our community and followers of Birmingham Gems.
The Birmingham Gems team arrived early to get a few shots of the King before the ceremony.
This giant of a sculpture modelled on the original King Kong is over 7 metres tall. He's impressive and the artwork is wonderful!
dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_6132b_KONG(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_6134b_KONG(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Nicholas Monro, the sculptor behind the original statue of King Kong, made of fibre-glass and displayed in Birmingham 50 years ago, was represented at the ceremony by his two sons Joe and Claud.
dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_6572b_KONG(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Sculptors RoboCarv worked with Mr Monro and his family to create the replica which is significantly bigger than the 1970s original.
dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_6427b_KONG(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_6167b_KONG(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_6185b_KONG(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Cordia Blackswan, developers of many of the builds and re-development occurring along and around Great Hampton Street, are responsible for seeing this project come to fruition.
dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_6218b_KONG(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_6526b_KONG(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />
Marcus Hawley, founder and managing director of Cordia Blackswan makes an extremely important point about the connection between art, commmunity and the role of place-makers,
"xxxxxxx
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6148b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6173b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6167b_KONG.jpg" />dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6185b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6218b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6228b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6249b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6282b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6285b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6310b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6328b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6336b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6364b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6371b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6378b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6410b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6389b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6419b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6427b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6424b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6438b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6441b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6459b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6473b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6453b_KONG(1).jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6484b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6499b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6518b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6526b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6537b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6572b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6587b_KONG.jpg" />
dndimg dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/IMG_6604b_KONG.jpg" />
Photography by Daniel Sturley