Music & Arts
Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death inspires 8-foot replica of Oscar 'heroin' statue by Hollywood street artist
Street sculptor Plastic Jesus installed a statue depicting the iconic Academy Awards statuette shooting heroin in its arm, a reminder of the drug problems many stars struggle with.
BY NANCY DILLON / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014, 2:32 PM
LA street artist Plastic Jesus constructed an 8 foot replica of an Oscar shooting heroin into its arm as a commentary on the prevalence of drug deaths in the United States.
A famed Hollywood street artist is scoring more controversy with an 8-foot replica of an Oscar statue shooting heroin. Underground artist Plastic Jesus installed the work early Friday morning on a corner of Hollywood Boulevard just steps from where Tinseltown’s elite will gather for the 86th Academy Awards on Sunday.
The artist said in a statement: "From Marilyn Monroe, John Belushi, Heath Ledger, and more recently Philip Seymour Hoffman, it's only when there is a tragic death of a high profile celebrity that the issue makes the news. However, almost every week someone in the industry dies from the effects of drug use".
It’s a mannequin coated in glimmering gold with arms outstretched, shooting smack.
“When you live in Hollywood and work in the industry, you realize how endemic drug use really is – affecting everyone from aspiring actors and actresses to sound and lighting guys to agents and managers. But it’s only when you have a high profile death like Philip Seymour Hoffman or Whitney Houston that it hits the news,” the artist told the Daily News Friday.
The new piece is intended to pull back the curtain as the industry gathers for its biggest party, he said.
“Many people in Hollywood almost proudly announce they’re sober after battling alcohol abuse, but there’s so much stigma attached to hard drug use, people often don’t seek help or acknowledge the problem until it’s too late,” he said.
The issue is highly personal too, he said. “My cousin and his wife both died from heroin addictions. They both got clean and actually met in rehab and got married and got house. Sadly, one relapsed and caused the other to relapse.”
Plastic Jesus has gained international notoriety for his graffiti image of Lance Armstrong with an intravenous drip attached to his bike.
He also installed fake products at a half dozen Best Buy stores around Los Angeles with realistic signs that said “Useless Plastic Box 1.2” and “$99.99.” [email protected]
Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music- arts/controversial-heroin-shooting-oscar-statue-comments-philip- seymour-hoffman-death-article-1.1706542#ixzz2ui3Tx4KA