USA: Naked statue of socialite turned reality star Paris Hilton after an accident, is in the works

Record ID: 624815

  • Title: USA: Naked statue of socialite turned reality star Paris Hilton after an accident, is in the works
  • Date: 9th May 2007
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) PARIS HILTON POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
  • Embargoed: 24th May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAB51UVGX8K62WP64R1A2LF4BYM
  • Story Text: The man who created a statue of Britney Spears giving birth on a rug, artist Daniel Edwards, is now carving up a new sculpture - this time portraying a nude, tiara-wearing Paris Hilton with her legs splayed open and her Chihuahua by her side. Hotel heiress turned reality TV star Paris Hilton's legacy is being cast in plastic. The blonde socialite, who was sentenced to 45 days of jail time for violating probation for reckless driving, is the latest subject of artist Daniel Edwards, who has set a new standard in shock value.
    Edwards cast a nude sculpture of Britney Spears giving birth last year that became a sensation.
    Now the new sculpture by the artist, titled "Paris Hilton Autopsy" portrays Hilton, naked with her legs spread wide apart. With a tiara on her head, mobile phone in hand and dog Chihuahua Tinkerbell sitting near her breasts, Hilton is portrayed dead after an accident.
    But the part that is being seen as most disconcerting is the abdominal cavity, which Edwards says will be removed, with internal organs on display. He explains that the gory depiction is part of a message warning against drunken driving,
    "I often think about the perils of drunk driving. I lost a couple of friends in high school at prom season due to drunk driving," said Edwards. "It's a way for people to show or feel a little empathy for what it must be like to see a dead body and start as a coroner does, explore the deceased, the remains. I thought it was a way for a younger person to really kind of get more involved with the subject."
    The sculpture will be unveiled on May 11 at New York's Capla Kesting Fine Art gallery as the central piece for a public service announcement warning against drunken driving. The campaign is called "Campaign to Rescue Women of Youth".
    Hilton was arrested last September on suspicion of driving under the influence. She pleaded no contest to the misdemeanour charge in January and was placed on probation for 36 months and was ordered not to drive and to enrol in alcohol education classes within 21 days. Prosecutors accused her of failing to enrol in an alcohol education program by a court-ordered deadline and of driving on a suspended license.
    Apart from his sculpture of Spears giving birth to her firstborn, Edwards has also created Suri's Bronzed Baby Poop, in honour of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' daughter Suri. He also created a larger-than-life bust of Cuban leader Fidel Castro that drew the ire of Miami's Cuban exile community.
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