As people walk down a quiet street in Headington, Oxford, the UK they get the shock if not of their life, then of their visit to the cradle of modern science that Oxford represents in the eyes of those whose children didn’t go to Cambridge.
A local radio host mounted it on top of the roof of his house almost 30 years ago to protest against a number of things that intrude into our lives without our express consent.
For the following 15 years, the radio host had to fight the local council, who wanted the shark to be removed because they hadn’t issued a planning permission for the damn fish to be installed.
The good cause behind the shark has been largely forgotten and only a huge fish puncturing the roof remained. It became a work of art without a lengthy explanation of why it was art.
Finally, in 1992, Art won over Legal Matter. It was legally allowed to stay.
Really, in the UK gravity and planning permissions are basically the same stuff.
They can’t be defied. Never.
Yet, a simple piece of inexpensive art did the impossible; and implications of this feat are many and stunning.
For instance, it means that with enough determination, people can learn to fly. Perhaps, Douglas Adams was right when he wrote that the important bit in mastering this skill is to learn to miss the floor when you fall.
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Standing Ovation, Seated 
Now, this is art!! Great share
This is the most unorthodox take. Very cool.
I only wish I had the patience to wait untl the sunset to take the shot )
I just think that is very cool.
Yep, and having the idiom, “raining cats & dogs” changed into “sharks & whales” is priceless )
Ha, that idiom needed updating anyway 🙂
I want to have that on my house. But wife said “no” …. 😀 great picture!
Can you still bargain with your wife about it? ) ‘Cause I can have a ton of arguments for having something that clever on top of the house with the major one being “immortality” of memory about those who put it on )
Very cool.
That’s quite a statement!
janet
Hi Janet – originally it was a political statement, but now it is… metaphysical! )
Firstly…what a terrific statement. Secondly hooray for winning against council stupidity
I was thinking of applauding the guy when I took the picture. He still lives there
That is cool…on so many levels.
Just love it. I like it when someone takes a stand – fighting bureaucracy is my kind of thing.
Leslie
Hi, Leslie – who doesn’t love to win over “local councils”? But not many people are prepared to fight them for fifteen years though ) The guy’s the kind of fighter that would be knighted by the king for this feat were it happening sometime in the Dark Middle Ages)
Does my heart good to hear about him.
Lesie