What you going to do on a plinth for an hour?? Strangely enticing... (One & Other)

Member Name: MissTierney

Product:	One & Other
Date:	21/07/09 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: interesting to watch, something a bit different

Disadvantages: boring people

"one & other" is an art project set up by artist/sculptor Antony Gormley.
He is most famous for his piece, "the angel of the north" - a huge steel sculpture of an angel which is stood on a hill overlooking the A1 in tyneside.

ABOUT
This summer from July 2009 to october 2009, Gormley is recruiting 2400 random members of the public (chosen from a number of people who have applied) to each spend one hour recurrently - every hour, 24 hours a day, on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar square, London.
The person on the plinth can do whatever they choose - the purpose of the project is to create a living monument reflecting todays UK.

The plinth was made in the early-mid 1800's and remained without a statue, as they had run out of funding!
Then in the late 1990's a few pieces were commissioned to be displayed on it temporarily, and that has been the case ever since over the last decade. "One and other" is just another piece to go down in its history.
There is a safety net attached around the plinth so its not dangerous, and a cherry-picker is used to swap plinthers at the hour.

The project is partnered with skyarts, and there is live streaming 24 hours a day - you can look on the website (www.oneandother.co.uk) to see who is up there and what they are doing.
They have a highlights program once a week too on the Skyarts channel.

You can still apply for September and October so if you want to do it get on the website now. The only requirement is that you're aged 16 or over. There is a percentage quota for the amount of people who represent each area too. So it really is a lucky draw


MY OPINION
i was told about the project a few months ago, i didn't fully understand it at the time but applied anyway!
I completely forgot about it until i received an e-mail telling me i had secured a place on the plinth for August.
"Luckily" i couldn't have made it because of work commitments, so i declined the invitation. What the hell would i have done stood on a plinth for a whole hour anyway?? I have no idea!
In my mind, you'd have to be either bonkers or have steel courage to do it. I don't understand the attraction at all.
I have found it quite a compelling watch though, and often find myself going on the website to see what the latest plinther is doing.
There have been a lot of charity and cause activists, which is good - it might be boring to watch but at least they are highlighting the things that mean something to them.
There are also, unfortunately, quite a lot of plinthers who do nothing - just go up there to "enjoy the view" - a wasted place IMO.
There have been some funny moments too though - its just catching them at the right time! Unfortunately i dont pick up skyarts so can't watch the highlights which is a great shame as i would love to.

Have a look on youtube for "BNP plinth"
The guy gets the whole of trafalgar square booing the BNP for exactly 1 minute - classic!

Summary: compelling watch