Progress Shark Has Become An Iconic WorldPride Icon
What happens when you take a giant model predator like a shark and give it a sparkly rainbow swimsuit?
You make an icon.
The Australian Museum joined in the Sydney WorldPride celebrations with the now-viral Progress Shark as a way to welcome visitors to the city. The 10-metre-long statue has been turned into an accidental icon of WorldPride 2023.
Head of the museum’s pride committee, Amanda Farrar summed up the decision in a few basic words.
“We went: ‘Right, well how about we just cover it in a rainbow?’ she said, as reported by BBC News.
“It has become the accidental icon of World Pride.”
And the result is a classic Australian stereotype that has caught international attention and inspired countless of memes. Progress Shark even has its own fan Instagram account.
Even the artist behind the rainbow swimsuit, George Buchanan couldn’t have imagined just how popular the statue would become.
“It’s a ridiculous choice,” she said, as reported by BBC News.
“But that’s actually what is making people happy… I think people need a bit of silliness in their lives.”
“It’s this supposedly menacing creature, but you look at its face and it’s very, very cute now. It’s got this really cheeky grin.”
Fans Love The Shark
Hundreds of visitors and residents have taken snapshots of themselves with the shark and social media has been filled with support for the artwork and hilarious memes.
#ProgressShark @SydWorldPride @sydneymardigras pic.twitter.com/yYs7PQk8DA
— Brett (@BrettMichaelB) February 4, 2023
“Catching up on this weeks news and memes, my absolute favourite new one being Progress Shark. This is the most Australians being silly and irreverent thing I’ve ever seen,” one fan tweeted.
“I’m obsessed. Australia’s LGBTQ+ statue Progress Shark is the gay icon we didn’t know we needed,” another wrote.
