Sculptor Antony Gormley's new project, One and Other, aims to create a "living monument" in Trafalgar Square. Every hour - 24 hours a day, for 100 days, without a break - a different person will stand on an empty plinth (a plinth is the base of a column) in this very public space. That person will be able to do anything they like during their hour, just so long as it's legal. As the official site describes it, this space, "normally reserved for statues of Kings and Generals... will become an image of themselves, and a representation of the whole of humanity."
There were almost 15,000 applicants for the 2400 positions. The first person to participate will be Rachel Wardell, a stay-at-home mom who will take the stage on July 6 at 9am. In an article on BBC News, Wardell said, "I wanted to be able to represent normal, everyday stay-at-home mums who aren't normally a feature of major artworks - to show my kids now, and when they're older, that you can do, and be part of anything, no matter how ordinary you are or feel."
So simple, and so brilliant.
Posted by: Barb | July 04, 2009 at 12:13 PM