The next two installations for the Fourth Plinth have been announced; they are Antony Gormley’s One and Other and Yinka Shonibare MBE’s Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle. I’m delighted than Shonibare’s entry was chosen – I wrote about it here. As I said then, I think a model of HMS Victory would be particularly appropriate both because of the obvious links to Trafalgar and Nelson, but also because of London and Britain’s maritime heritage. The fabric used for the sails will be based on an African design, which seems to reflect the modernity of the city well, as does the irony of literally being ‘in a glass jar’ in an area used for demonstrations, festivals and, of course, statuary.
Gormley’s entry, which consists of a series of members of the public standing on the plinth for an hour each, will only be installed (for want of a better word) for a hundred days, meaning 2,400 people will be able to take part. I’m tempted to have a go myself, mostly so I can take my camera and tripod and take some unique photos1. One of my projects at the moment (moment in the loosest sense of the word) is to try to photograph every statue in London and put them onto a searchable map; it would be fun to be part of the database.
I wonder how many people will use their hour to make a political or commercial point. ‘Vote for Me’ and ‘Eat at Joe’s’ on either side of a sandwich board seem like a good idea to me.
xD.
I’m thinking of getting a panoramic head anyway. Anyone have any experience with the Panosaurus?