Joss the Margate Giant
Joss the Margate Giant was commissioned by Turner Contemporary as part of their ongoing audience development programme. The giant's personality, which reflects Margate's seaside traditions of funfair, smuggling and holiday escapism, grew out of consultation with local people, hundreds of whom joined in the programme of outreach and open days.
Joss, was named by the townsfolk, after the famous smugglers cove, Joss Bay, just along the Margate coast. The Big Head companions make reference to Margate seaside history, and are based on artists Tracey Emin and JWM Turner in the guise of Punch and Judy. Tracey Emin has told us her mum sent her a picture of her Big Head from the local paper, and she thought "it was great".