Protester hijacks Trafalgar plinth
Updated on 06 July 2009
The start of a new public art project in Trafalgar Square does not go quite according to plan as a protester hijacks the people's plinth. Keme Nzerem reports from Trafalgar Square.
It is an opportunity for members of the public to occupy a plinth in Trafalgar Square for an hour, doing exactly what they want, as long as it's legal.
But sculptor Antony Gormley's fourth plinth arts project in London had a few teething problems today when an anti-smoking protester clambered on to the structure minutes before the event was due to begin.
Stuart Holmes leapt on to the plinth ahead of housewife Rachel Wardell, who had been due to be the first person on the plinth with her two young children. His banner stated: "Save the children. Ban tobacco and actors smoking."
He refused to move on as sculptor Antony Gormley attempted to make a speech.
Ms Wardell, 35, from Sleaford, Lincolnshire, who describes herself as a "stay-at-home mum", was due to take her place on the plinth in Gormley's One & Other project. Her replacement is Jason Clark, a nurse from Brighton.
A total of 2,400 people will occupy the plinth for an hour each, 24 hours a day, for 100 days. Video footage of their performances will be shown live on the project's website.
Other "plinthers" on the first day include Jill Gatcum, a 51 year-old consultant, from London, Suren Seneviratne, a 22 year-old Sri Lankan student and artist, and Ishvinder Singh Matharu, a 31-year-old optometrist, from Chigwell.
