Triceratops takes centre stage on Jurassic Coast — David Popa teams up with David Attenborough for Prehistoric Planet Season 2
Last updated 29th May 2023
American artist David Popa has joined forces with David Attenborough for an incredible project to celebrate the launch of Prehistoric Planet season 2.
In a bid to transport Dorset to an almost forgotten time, the New York-born creative genius is taking the Jurassic Coast back 66 million years to the age of the dinosaurs.
Placing importance on entering his flow state, Popa utilises the same materials cavemen would've used in the form of chalk, charcoal and earth to make enormous artworks on the ground.
Staging his displays in stunning locations, purists can only view the supersized pieces from above via drones.
Showcasing his incredible skills, he's honoured Dorset with a stunning project, putting the triceratops in the exact place it would've roamed all those years ago.
And his fantastic eco-works aren't exclusive to the UK, as Popa has travelled the globe pursuing his passion.
Speaking exclusively to Greatest Hits Radio Dorset, he said: "It's been crazy. I'm currently based in Finland, so I took my paddle board out and did an island dinosaur called Hatzegopteryx. We started there, flew to Utah, USA, where I did the T Rex, then finished off with the Triceratops on the Jurassic Coast."
He continued: "It was a wild adventure, and each of them had their own difficulties. The landscape always brings a beauty and flair to the piece that you never could have anticipated. So this adventure was mad, but it was awesome."
But which dinosaur is his favourite?
Popa laughed: "Oh, as a kid, it was always Triceratops. I remember 'The Land Before Time' show. And then David Gurney, a very famous illustrator, did a series of books. It was always Triceratops. I remember vividly, flipping through books, and Triceratops was always the winner."
Born on the East Coast of America, to father, Albert Popa, who has earned his place among the greatest graffiti artists of all time, the youngster was always destined for stardom.
He recalled: "I wouldn't be an artist if it wasn't for my father. He instilled an immense sense of curiosity and encouraged me to follow my guiding star wherever it would take me.
"I remember for my birthday, up until I was probably around 11-12 years old, we would cut school, and he would bring me to the Natural History Museum, or we would just go out on these adventures. He would always give me permission to chase after these sorts of dreams, which was crazy.
"I mean, there are very few parents that would encourage you, like my dad did, to be a professional artist. I vividly remember. He's like, 'Dave, there's nothing better that you can be than being an artist'.
"Most parents would be like 'Please don't be an artist. We have no idea how you're going to pay your bills and survive. It was just an incredible childhood, to be honest."
With many years passing since those happy days, Popa has become a father in his own right, welcoming three children into the world. And they're slightly confused about why he's so obsessed with dinosaurs.
He chuckled: "It's been like, 'Daddy, why are you always working on this dinosaur project'? The past month has been like 'Daddy again with the dinosaurs'? So, yeah, they're getting more inquisitive as to why I'm travelling so much and why I have to go away again to talk about dinosaurs. But it's been incredible to be able to share the process with them."
And it goes without saying that Popa will be watching as much of Prehistoric Planet Season 2 as possible.
He concluded: "Season one blew my mind with what it was able to do. It brought the character out of each of the dinosaurs in ways that you could never anticipate. It almost brought a humanity to the T-Rex. Everyone thinks it's an apex predator, and then all of a sudden, you're sort of sharing life with these creatures. So yeah, I'm going to try to watch it every day."