There have been no shortage of tributes to Michael Jackson since the singer's death several weeks ago. Many singers and rappers have released songs and saluted the legend's memory in performance, which seem like appropriate responses to a man who did so much to change music. But some people express themselves differently, which is where the Germans come in. A shopping mall in Berlin is currently hosting a sand sculpture that acts as a tribute to Michael. It tracks the various stages of his career, from his Jackson 5 days to the Thriller years to the over-the-top HIStory era.
The centerpiece is Michael's form — dressed in what appears to be his Dangerous era military garb — towering triumphantly above the rest of the piece. The structure consists of 200 tons (that's tons — a total of 400,000 pounds) of sand and took a grand total of ten days to put together. It's a shockingly intricate development, with artwork from various album covers and Jackson-related imagery mixed in with the forms of Michael and his brothers. Also included in the sculpture: A sign declaring Jackson as "The King of Pop" and at least one image of Bubbles the Chimp. Like many of the Jackson memorials set up since the singer's death, the sand sculpture has become a hub for fans who want to leave remembrances and mementos of the singer's life and career.