Statues

[rhythmaning]

By chance, I have found myself around Trafalgar Square several times this week, and I have seen four different people on the plinth.

So far I have seen

• a guy who was crouched down, as if he were sketching on the plinth, like a pavement artist; this could have been ironic;
  
• a guy who was protesting how tax avoidance in the UK hurt people abroad - I think through a lack of funds for overseas aid (I wasn't hanging around for the details). This got a little more interesting when he was heckled (a lot of people seemed to be mumbling that they shouldn't be giving to overseas aid anyway - I should really have tackled that at source) - and the heckler tried to lob a bottle of water at him. The guy on the plinth had a good line in banter and coped with that very well
  
• a guy who had his right arm up a large glove puppet, and was performing to the crowd; I couldn't hear whether he was any good or not.

I have no idea what the fourth person was, or what she was doing - at least, I hope she was a she.

I don't believe any of what they were doing was art, nor frankly that they deserved to be on the plinth. But of course that isn't the idea: what they do isn't necessarily art (though I do hope there are maybe some more interesting performers who do create art of some form) - I guess perhaps the pavement artist was creating something for the other plinth-stander (and actually, I really like that idea!) - but that isn't the point.

The artistry comes in Anthony Gormley's idea of throwing the plinth open: after years of creating art from his own body, now he is creating art from others, live on the plinth.

Personally, I think I'd have preferred him to stick one of his own sculptures up there, but perhaps I will in time warm to the plinth.

Gratuitous Gormley sculpture pic

Comments

[deililly.livejournal.com]

I love it. The feed is magical. You get to hear what they are thinking, what they can see and watching them talk to passers by.

The ones I have really loved so far are the chap who put up his phone number and talked to everyone who called. The guy who sat on the edge of the plinth last night and read drunks in the square bedtime stories from Arabian Nights. He was just going to read to his friends watching on the internet but the folks in the square asked so he happily sat down and did it. The woman who went up in memory of her brother who died from alcohol addiction and was nearly washed off the top of it in the torrential rain. She gave up what she was doing and just had a laugh. There was even a guy today who stood like that Gormley statue for a full hour. And a woman who tried to build a house of cards for Shelter.

I think any one who applied definitely deserve to be up there. I am a little surprised you even used the word deserve at all if I am truthful. I don't know if it is art. But then I don't know what art really is other than something you can enjoy, talk about, look at. I know one&other certainly allows that.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

I just saw something about that today, possibly on the Flickr blog. It's an interesting idea, at least.

[nicnac.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed listening to/watching a bassoonist last night. What would you do if you were up there?

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

I've not looked at the feed - I think it might be a very different experience!

And I really appreciate your comments.

I think for me art is in the intention - Gormley had the intention, whilst the people on the plinth are just the paints in his palette.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

I think it is a very interesting idea; though there are a number of street performers in the area anyway - I don't think one needs to be on a plinth to perform!

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

Also, I am amused that there are street performers around Trafalgar Sq as well - they don't need a plinth to create art!

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what I'd do! Clearly there has been a lot of thought put into some of the sessions - just not those I saw!