The 'four lads in jeans' who became internet sensations when their photo was turned into a meme are set to become immortalised as a statue. The bronze sculpture will be based in the spot the friends took the picture.
Jamie Philips, Connor Humpage, Kevin Rooney and Alex Lacey took an innocent group photo on a night out in 2019. The friends in tight, denim jeans standing side-by-side, were ribbed for being stereotypically British, and their photo was shared millions of times.
Now an artist claims to have created a statue of the four men which will be installed at the spot where the meme was born in Birmingham. The artist - known as Tat Vision - says it will be unveiled outside All Bar One tomorrow (27).
The sculptor said they made it from women mannequins in tight-clothing, with added papier-mâché and PVA glue, covered in bronze paint. On the upcoming, currently headless statue, Tat Vision told BirminghamLive : "The idea was inspired by the 'Ronaldo statue' and 'Boulton, Watt and Murdoch' near the library.
"I shipped the idea of doing it for the Commonwealth Games, but it was too late. Fortunately I was put in contact with Birmingham Big Weekender and had the go-ahead from them. The statue will be there all weekend as part of an event.
"It took me a few weeks, on-and-off, to make. I used four women mannequins, which I covered in tight-fitting ladies jeans and tops. The heads are made from papier-mâché and all of it was painted to have a nice, shiny bronze effect. I'm happy with the way it looks, just the heads to attach. Hope they don't fall off."
On his thoughts on the meme, Tat Vision added: "I first saw the Sea Shanty one and was perplexed and very amused. I got obsessed with it when I found out it was Birmingham-based.
"I love the proportions of their muscular upper-half, and the tightness of their trousers. It's like they're being squeezed out of them. They all seem really lovely guys."
