The Headington Shark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Untitled 1986 |
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The Headington Shark in 2007, before it was renovated
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| Artist | John Buckley |
| Year | 1986 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Medium | Painted fibreglass |
| Dimensions | 7.6 m (25 ft) |
| Location | Headington, Oxford |
The Headington Shark (also called Untitled 1986) is a giant sculpture of a shark. It looks like the shark is diving headfirst into the roof of a house! You can find this amazing artwork at 2 New High Street in Headington, Oxford, England.
The Story Behind the Shark
The shark sculpture was first placed on the house on August 9, 1986. The house belonged to a radio presenter named Bill Heine. The shark is quite big, measuring 25 feet long. It is made from painted fibreglass, which is a strong, lightweight material. It took the artists about three months to create this unique sculpture.
The shark was put up on a very important date. It was the 41st anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki in Japan. The sculpture was designed by John Buckley, and Anton Castiau helped build it. Bill Heine said that the shark was meant to make people think. He wanted it to remind everyone about big world issues, like nuclear power and peace.
In August 2007, the shark sculpture was fixed up by John Buckley. This happened because some people had complained about how the sculpture looked. Buckley made sure it was in good shape again.
On August 26, 2016, Bill Heine's son, Magnus Hanson-Heine, bought the house. He bought it specifically so that the famous shark could stay on the roof for everyone to see.
Images for kids
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The Headington Shark in 2009, after it was fixed up.
