Artist Antony Gormley, he of the Angel of the North fame and the fabulous Another Place sculptures, has begun a new artistic venture that you can actually be involved in if you so wish.
Sounds cool right?
I mean, his other stuff has been interesting, quirky and fun, and while I’m not an expert, it seems to stem very much from a genuine feeling for ordinary people.
I do have to admit that part of me worried a little that the figures on the beach, or one of those that was dotted about the roof tops of London, might have been mistaken for a depressed Plumber trying to end it all because his wife had left him for a Cadbury’s Flake…
…cough, apart from that, I really liked them.
But the new idea? Well, it might be fun for a little while in a voyeuristic kind of way, but 100 days of it might get a bit much.
“Mr Gormley wants members of the public to volunteer to stand for a whole hour, 25ft up on top of the plinth in one of Britain’s busiest public spaces.” (BBC News)
Erm, ok.
But,
why?’
Thank Bob Mr Gormley was kind enough to explain.
Ready?
“You stand on the plinth for an hour and you become a symbol, or a metaphor,”
See. You get it now right?
No?
Well let me explain. If I stand on that plinth, 25ft in the air, for an hour, then people will not see a 34 year old Mum of two who is maybe feeling a bit bored, a bit embarrassed, possibly even a bit nauseous, and probably needing the loo, but will instead see ’something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign.’, (Dictionary.com)
It’s all becoming clear now right? You won’t see me, but something I’m representing, a carrot maybe, or a penguin trying to pull off wearing a sombrero at a JayZ Concert, or a cantaloupe melon.
Fabulous right?
So, if you’d like to be part of this wonderful idea, then go here and register your interest, because I know I might be taking the pi** just a little bit, but I like Antony Gormley, and I’d like to see what happens.
Oh, and a question.
If you were on the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square for an hour, what would you do?
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February 26th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Wow…that gets a person thinking, eh?
MP3 player?
February 26th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Fall off, most likely.
February 26th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Sorry, but I’m a stupid American….what’s a plinth? I’d likely stand on one….
February 26th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I will only stand on a plinth if Leendaluu is also standing on one. Then we could chat. Of course you’d be on one too, right? We could have a threeway chat.
Then I wouldn’t notice an HOUR OF MY LIFE ON A PLINTH!!! WHAT THE PTOMCRUISE?
I will give 10 minutes. I will stand on a plinth for 10 minutes. Unless I have to pee, and then it will only be 5. 3 if I’m thirsty.
February 26th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Single Parent Dad is a funny fellow!
I think I would take pictures and let the audience become my art.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I would sing songs to myself and stare at the clouds and chew gum and make lists in my head. Clearly I am used to standing around waiting for things…
February 27th, 2009 at 2:04 am
I would daydream, as I do most of the time, and wink at passers-by.
February 27th, 2009 at 3:12 am
Do you have to sign some sort of waiver in case you fall?
February 27th, 2009 at 8:02 am
An hour you say? On my own? Standing on a plinth with no kids? Oh please. I would probably fall asleep and fall off but I’d like to think I could meditate and get re-newed. Or something.
February 27th, 2009 at 8:31 am
First I would not have drunk any liquid for several hours prior .. and then I would listen to my iPod Shuffle and maybe take pix of the people looking up
February 27th, 2009 at 9:52 am
I’d bring some water balloons to entertain myself. And of course, the people getting bombed.
February 27th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Kim, definitely. You’d need music, and something to block out all the jeers and the sound of pigeons.
Single Parent Dad, me too. I get dizzy on the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall balcony, so I’d be pants at this. I wouldn’t dare move from the middle. Shiver.
Leendaluu, you are so not stupid. A plinth is the great big concrete slab a statue is erected upon. I bet you would look fabulous on one.
Zerilda I would love that. And we could make fabulous metaphors together.
Momo, he is.
And that sounds like a great idea. I’m surprised Mr Gormley hasn’t thought of that perspective himself.
Susan that sounds perfectly lovely. And at least there won’t be any mad people sharing your plinth. You do seem to attract them.
Gone Back South, so you’re a winker are you? ;D
Lilacs, I imagine so, though they have safety nets all around it and had have major Health and Safety input.
Expat Mum, that bit does appeal to me, the kid free hour, but I think I’d struggle with all those eyes on me. Gulp.
Daryl that sounds perfect. I wonder if they give you a chair or if you have to stand??
Sybil I think this is my favourite so far hon. Art fighting back. Blumming marvellous.
February 27th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Given my fear of heights and inability to stand for long periods without feeling woozy (I never did well in the school choir for that reason) I’d probably fall off and become a colourful artwork splat for people to appreciate.
February 27th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I’d take a big cushion, an excellent book and order cocktails to delivered every twenty minutes.
When can I come?
February 27th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
I’d have to take my knitting, Jo!!
February 27th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Obviously, I’d get covered in pidge plop. I think it would be fun to have a megaphone up there, so that I could shout out rude/lecherous/inappropriate things at innocent passers by.I’d request a bullet proof jacket too – you’d be easy pickings for a sniper, standing on a fifty foot high pedestal…ducks sitting etc.Sounds like fun, though. I would definitely be considered a metaphor for insane.
Mya x
February 27th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Yes, I enjoy a nice wink from time to time! Especially when standing on plinths.
February 28th, 2009 at 12:31 am
Well, 25 ft is about 8 meters and tat is pretty high, so with my fear of heights, you’d probably not get me up there. Once I was up there, I’d feel the terrible urge to jump, so there would have to be a safety net underneath me. Could I be one of the onlookers instead and shout, “Jump!”?
March 1st, 2009 at 11:42 am
Home Office Mum, painting pictures with words, hee hee. I’d probably go splat too. I get wobbly if I have to stand still as well. Weird.
Frog in the Field. now that’s a good idea. You can sign up above, really truly. If you did it I would come down and wave at you.
Rosie, you could knit a ladder and escape. ;D
Mya I would pay to see you do that hon. Anf the bullet proof jacket is such a good idea. I hadn’t though of that. Maybe they do a multi purpose bullet proof and pigeon proof kind??
Gone Back South, hee hee. ;D
Finely Tuned Woman I’d be the same as you. They have safety nets all around it but no barrier. You know I bet some people will shout jump. I’ll look out for you being arrested on the News. ;D
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:13 am
I am a symbol, a metaphor, without even needing to stand on a plinth. (Hey, I knew my useless arts degree would come in useful one day – just look at that!)
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Hi Jo and everyone who’s commented so far,
Just to let you know we’ve linked to you on the ‘official’ One & Other blog: http://www.oneandother.co.uk/whats-new.html
Great suggestions, hope some of you are registering an interest!