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Middlesbrough in Trafalgar Square

12th August 2009

Type: News

Categories: Love Middlesbrough News

Kim Richards has taken the lovemiddlesbrough message to London as part of a major art project.

Kim is ready for her time on the Fourth Plinth

Photo: Dave Charnley

The 22-year-old spent an hour on the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square as a human sculpture in Antony Gormley’s One & Other living monument.

She has become one of just 2,400 people from across the UK to be allocated a place on the plinth after applying on-line.

The project, by Angel of the North sculptor Gormley, sees ordinary members of the public given the opportunity to occupy a space created in 1841 and normally reserved for statues of Kings and Generals.

Every hour, 24 hours a day for 100 days from July 6 to October 14, different people will make the plinth their own – and Kim’s stint has taken place between 8pm and 9pm on Saturday (August 15).

Those selected are free to do as they please during their hour – to demonstrate, to perform, or simply to reflect. The rules are simple: you must occupy the plinth alone for the whole hour and you can take anything with you that you can carry.

Explaining the idea behind the artwork, Antony Gormley said: “In the context of Trafalgar Square with its military, valedictory and male historical statues to specific individuals, this elevation of everyday life to the position formerly occupied by monumental art allows us to reflect on the diversity, vulnerability and particularity of the individual in contemporary society.”

Kim, a graduate trainee in Middlesbrough Council’s policy and performance department, said this prior to her time on the plinth: “I heard about it on the news and applied on-line – I didn’t expect to hear anything so I was gobsmacked to find out I had been chosen.

“I really like Antony Gormley’s work and it’s a once in a lifetime chance to do something that will never happen again.

“Middlesbrough gets a lot of stick and suffers from negative perceptions, and people don’t realise all the great things that go on here.

“I’m looking forward to playing my part in redressing the balance – I will be wearing my lovemiddlesbrough T-shirt and waving my lovemiddlesbrough banner with pride!”

Middlesbrough Image Campaign manager Claire Wordsworth said: “I was delighted to receive a request from Kim for lovemiddlesbrough merchandise to wear on the fourth plinth.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to show the nation and the world our passion and pride for Middlesbrough.”

Middlesbrough’s Deputy Mayor Councillor Dave Budd said: “It’s terrific that Kim has been picked for One & Other and I’m delighted that she has chosen to spend her time spreading the word about Middlesbrough.

“We all know why we’re proud to live and work in Middlesbrough, and now that message will become part of a living work by a major international artist.”

To find out more about the project and how to apply or to watch the plinthers live via webcam visit www.oneandother.co.uk