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Man scales plinth ahead of launch | Man scales plinth ahead of launch |
(41 minutes later) | |
A man has scaled Antony Gormley's Plinth art project in London's Trafalgar Square, minutes before the event was due to begin. | |
Anti-smoking protestor Stuart Holmes took a running jump onto the plinth, but agreed to come down when the first participant was raised into place. | |
London Mayor Boris Johnson said during his opening speech: "This is brilliant, this is what it's all about." | London Mayor Boris Johnson said during his opening speech: "This is brilliant, this is what it's all about." |
A new volunteer will take to the plinth every hour for the next 100 days. | |
More than 14,500 people have so far applied to take part in the event. | More than 14,500 people have so far applied to take part in the event. |
We are reviewing security in light of what happened Helen Marriage, event organiser | |
"I think it's fantastic - it's about capturing art for the people. It's about democratising art," Johnson said. | |
He told the BBC: "It's a profound meditation on the nature of fame and talent. | |
"Do these toga'd buffoons cast in bronze around Trafalgar Square deserve any more celebration than this person up there? This is the question - that's what this operation is trying to answer, but I leave it to you." | |
Rachel Wardell was raising awareness for the NSPCC | |
The protest overshadowed the entrance of housewife Rachel Wardell, 35, who was the first "living statue" to take part in the One and Other project. | |
As Ms Wardell was being winched into place, Gormley addressed the protestor: "I hope you understand the whole idea of this is one person, one hour, one at a time. | |
"I hope you are going to do the gentlemanly thing and when Rachel arrives give up your beautifully-taken moment to her." | |
Mr Holmes shouted that he wanted to be handed a microphone, but Gormley replied: "No, you should have brought your own - that was part of the rule." | |
Mr Holmes was given a round of applause by the crowd when he came down peacefully. | |
Gormley later told the BBC: "I owe him a big debt of gratitude for getting the whole thing off to bang." | |
Helen Marriage, director of Artichoke, the organisation running the event, told the BBC steps were being taken to ensure a similar incident did not happen again. | |
She said: "There were four security guards up there. But we are reviewing security in light of what happened and making any necessary changes to ensure it won't happen again." | |
Ms Wardell was followed at 1000 BST by Jason Clark, a 41-year-old nurse from Brighton, who took pictures on his camera of the people below. | |
Other people to take to the plinth on the first day include Jill Gatcum, 51, a 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 in Essex. | Other people to take to the plinth on the first day include Jill Gatcum, 51, a 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 in Essex. |
Heather Pringle will be celebrating her 20th birthday on the plinth | Heather Pringle will be celebrating her 20th birthday on the plinth |
The oldest among July's 615 participants is pensioner Gwynneth Pedler, 83, from Oxford, who plans to signal with semaphore flags. | The oldest among July's 615 participants is pensioner Gwynneth Pedler, 83, from Oxford, who plans to signal with semaphore flags. |
While Heather Pringle, a student from Hexham, will celebrate her 20th birthday on the plinth. | While Heather Pringle, a student from Hexham, will celebrate her 20th birthday on the plinth. |
Living statues for following months will be announced later, with 2,400 people taking part up to 14 October. | Living statues for following months will be announced later, with 2,400 people taking part up to 14 October. |
Participants are chosen at random by a computer and can do anything they want on the plinth - as long as it is legal. | |
Applications will be accepted until 1 September when the last group of people are chosen. | Applications will be accepted until 1 September when the last group of people are chosen. |