A remarkably kitsch statue of Michael Jackson was unveiled outside the stadium of Premier League side Fulham on Sunday. Chairman Mohamed Al Fayed unveiled the commemorative statue commissioned in memory of his friendship with the controversial singer. He shrugged off criticism of the sculpture, saying: "If some stupid fans don't understand and appreciate such a gift, they can go to hell."
Fayed claimed it would become a mecca for Jackson fans, adding: "People will queue to visit it from all over the UK." The statue, believed to have cost around £100,000, was originally planned for Harrods but, having sold the store, Fayed decided to erect it at Craven Cottage instead. Jackson saw a game at Craven Cottage in 1999.
Michael Jackson would probably have approved of the Fulham statue. The walls of his Neverland ranch were adorned with many kitsch, self-mythologising portraits of himself, such as this oil painting of the star dressed as a king in Elizabethan costume, painted by Norman Oak
Jackson's main go-to man for over-the-top portraits of himself was David Nordahl. Over a 17-year period, Jackson commissioned flamboyant paintings such as "Camelot", a 1995 portrait of Michael Jackson and his wife Lisa Marie Presley.
This Nordahl painting was seemingly modelled on Michelangelo's David, with half naked cherubs surrounding the star.
Paintings and Sculptures of the King of Pop
