Beloved children's author Andy Griffiths immortalised with sculpture
The 4-metre-high 3D-printed sculpture of the much-loved Australian children's author captures how Andy Griffiths' "inner kid" still runs riot while he's trying to be an adult.
One of Australia's most beloved children's authors, Andy Griffiths, has been immortalised in a sculpture at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. Titled "Andy Andy," the 4-metre-high 3D-printed work by artist Ronnie van Hout captures the essence of Griffiths' inner child that thrives even as he tries to navigate adult life.
The sculpture will be on display until mid-2027. "Whenever I picked up a pen," Griffiths said, "the child inside me goes, 'Ah, great, my chance to come out' and I would write funny, weird, strange stuff." The sculpture draws inspiration from Griffiths' shared love of punk music and absurdist humour with his late illustrator and creative collaborator, Terry Denton.
It also highlights the creativity that comes from this chaos and the interconnectedness of their histories and influences. Alongside "Andy Andy," the gallery is featuring "Brainstorm," a collection of objects, music, and books that ignite the spark in Griffiths' mind. Griffiths believes his writing has a distinct frequency, which readers can easily pick up on.
He hopes that both children and adults will be inspired by the unique blend of alternative thinking, music, and art featured in the exhibition.
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