Anyone can be a monument…for 60 minutes!
Trafalgar Square, in the heart of the city of London, England, is famous for its statue of Admiral Nelson (victor of the Battle of Trafalgar) high at the top of a column. There are also four large platforms (”plinths”) on the square, three of which bear statues of worthy 19th century men. The fourth has always been empty — waiting for some new worthy person to commemorate.
In 1999, a new project began to rotate pieces of modern art, chosen by competition, on this fourth plinth, a use that has proved to be very popular and successful (if sometimes controversial).
The latest project is probably the most fun, and also the most interesting and democratic use of this public art space. For 100 days (starting July 6), various people will stand for one hour each on the plinth, 24 hours a day. Anyone can apply to do so, and the 2,400 participants will be chosen completely at random from the people who apply, assigned a random time, and be able to do pretty much whatever they choose during their 60 minutes. The Guardian reports that “Antony Gormley, the artist whose idea it was, said yesterday: ‘I will be very upset if somebody doesn’t take off their clothes when they get there.’ Watch it live on webcam!
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