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Friday 28 March 2014

“London is a roost for every bird”




I’m not entirely sure what Disraeli had in mind when he said that, but you can bet your bottom dollar it was not this.



As I mentioned previously, many things have changed in London over the last decade, but really? A big blue bird? In Trafalgar Square? I was horrified, it is incongruous, unattractive and plain bloody pointless. Apparently the sculpture was selected by the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group, a panel of specialist advisors that guides and monitors the commissions for the plinth. I can only assume that they are all on some kind of medication. Either that or they are sitting at home laughing their collective heads off.

Needless to say the British press had a field day when it was unveiled by the ubiquitous Boris Johnson back in July last year. Out of the many, many, barely veiled puns that made the headlines I think my vote has to go to TheHuffinton Posts, no holds barred: “Boris Johnson In Trafalgar Square With A Massive Blue Cock And Disgruntled Woman”. Can't say fairer than that.

Of all the works that have been displayed so far, Yinka Shonibare's 'Nelson's Ship in a Bottle' was probably the coolest and at least vaguely relevant to the the location.



But they all, without fail, look totally out of place in one of the capitals most famous tourist attractions that receives over 15 million international visitors a year. Next up will be a skeletal horse, loosely based on the sketch by Stubbs of the original statue intended for the plinth. Then in 2016, keeping up with the 'stand out like a sore thumb' school of artistry, we are in for a bronze sculpture of a hand, in a thumbs-up gesture. With the thumb tip reaching 10 metres high it will be hard to ignore, I'm sure the headline writers are rubbing their hands together in anticipation.


6 comments:

  1. Ha Ha! I have to say it does look strange.

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    1. Believe me it looks stranger in the flesh!

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  2. I must have been living under a rock, because I never heard about this. But what were they thinking?!?!

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    1. I was unaware of it too Lexi, nearly fell over when I saw it...!

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  3. Bravo to the Huffington Post blue cock comment. That is priceless! Thanks for sharing . . . I will probably giggle all day!

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  4. It made me roar Lisa, happy to share my laughter! Have a good day......:-)

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