David Bowie - The Man Who Fell To Earth 50th Anniversary Bust

Celebrating the music icon David Bowie with a Full Head sculpture 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' - Edition n1

The sculpture despicts David Bowie as Thomas Jerome Newton, the character he played in the 1976 film The Man Who Fell to Earth, directed by Nicolas Roeg and based on Walter Tevis's 1963 novel of the same name- The year 2026 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the film's release.

An extraterrestrial being, David Bowie, disguised in human form, arrives on Earth to study its scientific properties and save his own planet from devastating drought. He estabilishes a powerful enterprise with the goal of building a spacecraft that will take him back home. However, Newton-initially pure and driven by purpose-gradually succombs to human weaknesses such as alcoholism, fame, and emotional dependence, losing sight of his mission and ultimately becoming trapped on Earth.

The story explores themes of alienation, loneliness, and a critique of modern society and corruption, with diversity at its core, as Newton's true nature terrifies humankind.

David Bowie was cast in the leading role because of his 'otherworldly' aura and his distinctive physical and psychological state at the time; the director selected him after watching the 1975 documentary 'Cracked Actor'.

The sculpture commemorates the 10th Anniversary of David Bowie's passing, celebrating Lazarus: The musical-his final masterpiece-and his iconic role in The Man Who Fell To Earth. These elements are deeply and inextricably connected, reflecting the profound and symbolic bond between Lazarus and Thomas Jerome Newton.

In the sculpture, Thomas Jerome Newton is depicted wearing simple clothes and sunglasses, his pale complextion and red hair recalling the Thin White Duke era-features that contribute to a detached and mysterious image. Newton wears special contact lenses to conceal his alien eyes; Because of their nature, he must protect them not only from the light of earth but also from the ouside world, hiding his true appearance.

I have created many sculptures inspired by david Bowie always emphasizing his unmistakable eyes, except in two, 'The Blind Prophet', inspired by Lazarus video and 'The Man Who Fell to Earth 50th Anniversary'.

The subject of this sculpture marked the start of my work as a portrait sculptor in 2018; revisiting it now is a way for me to honor and celebrate that beginning.

The sculpture is made of white clay. While the piece was still drying, it was hand painted with ceramic colors using the engobe technique. These colors are created from pigments mixed with clay and water. Once dry, the sculpture was fired in the kiln. The result is a matte surface with vivid, luminous colors. The sunglasses are made of painted clay too with the application of real Silver Leaf on the frame.

Bust Dimensions  H 38  W 22  x D 25 cm - Weight Kg 7

Black wooden base and bar included

All Sculptures are made and shipped from Italy into a wooden box .

When the Preorder button is active  The Sculptures are not yet ready to ship, they will be sculpted or completed once the deposit payment is received and shipped worldwide from Italy. After an order is placed I will email with an estimated schedule for sculpting and shipping. This link is for two Partial Payments 20% at the start and the balance after 30-60 days at the completion of the sculpture. Learn more on the page Pre order https://mariaprimolan.it/collections/pre-order

You can write to the artist asking more info to primolanmaria@gmail.com

Customs fees may be charged during transport depending on the country destination.

Sculptures to be sent to non-European countries are shipped with an Export Certificate signed from the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Export Office. This document requests about 5-15 days to be released from the Export Office.