The Fourth Plinth

The next bit of art to occupy "the fourth plinth" in Trafalgar Square will be seen as symbolic of Mayor Johnson's cultural politics. Since 1999 it has been occupied by a succession of contemporary works, including Marc Quinn's sculpture of Alison Lapper. The Guardian's Natalie Hanman is worried that Old Boris will re-emerge, put a stop all that trendy nonsense, and go along with the campaign to have a conventional statue of Battle of Britain hero Sir Keith Park placed there permanently.

However, there is another possibility. The plinth was originally designed to support an equestrian sculpture of William IV, but the necessary cash was never raised. However, Mayor Johnson could surely make a few more cuts in his predecessor's publicity budget and spend it instead - and rather appropriately - on commissioning a likeness of a smaller beast that provided so much helpful publicity for him during the election campaign. I refer of course to Veronica Wadley's cat.

Comments

[David Boothroyd]

Actually the current installation on the fourth plinth is the 'Hotel for Birds'; Alison Lapper pregnant moved more than two years ago. I was on the Westminster planning sub-committee that gave permission for it.

Boris is listed as having pledged support to the Sir Keith Park campaign; dare he disappoint them?

[Dave Hill]

Thank you for that, David. My error demonstrates that covering the election campaign did indeed destroy a number of brain cells (though I've just read that Model For a Hotel was only unveiled last November. No matter). Now, you are the second person to suggest to me that Boris won't keep his promise to the Park campaign. Better check that one out.