This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8272265.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
'Some day my plinth will come' | 'Some day my plinth will come' |
(3 days later) | |
Thousands of volunteers get to stand on the plinth for an hour each, "being art" | Thousands of volunteers get to stand on the plinth for an hour each, "being art" |
Journalists rarely - if ever - get the chance to be art. | Journalists rarely - if ever - get the chance to be art. |
But Glasgow-based BBC reporter Huw Williams has been part of an arts project in central London. | But Glasgow-based BBC reporter Huw Williams has been part of an arts project in central London. |
It gives 2,400 people the chance to stand for an hour on an enormous stone block in the heart of central London. | It gives 2,400 people the chance to stand for an hour on an enormous stone block in the heart of central London. |
"Off you go then. Go and be part of history." | "Off you go then. Go and be part of history." |
Cheery words in a tatty temporary building in Trafalgar Square. It's the headquarters for Anthony Gormley's "One and Other". | |
Over 100 days, thousands of volunteers - selected by computer - get to stand by themselves on an empty plinth. And do whatever they want, for an hour. So long as it's decent and legal. | Over 100 days, thousands of volunteers - selected by computer - get to stand by themselves on an empty plinth. And do whatever they want, for an hour. So long as it's decent and legal. |
A tractor takes Huw and staff from the project through the square | A tractor takes Huw and staff from the project through the square |
So, off I go. One of 207 people from Scotland chosen to take part. | So, off I go. One of 207 people from Scotland chosen to take part. |
I'm carried through the square by a tractor, which lifts me high onto the plinth. And leaves me there. | I'm carried through the square by a tractor, which lifts me high onto the plinth. And leaves me there. |
I look around. | I look around. |
There's the statue of Horatio Nelson - high up on his column. | There's the statue of Horatio Nelson - high up on his column. |
There's Admiralty Arch, and the Mall - leading to Buckingham Palace. | There's Admiralty Arch, and the Mall - leading to Buckingham Palace. |
And there's the National Gallery - home to an incredible collection of historic European art. | And there's the National Gallery - home to an incredible collection of historic European art. |
But for the next 60 minutes, I'm being art too. Apparently. | But for the next 60 minutes, I'm being art too. Apparently. |
Baring all | Baring all |
The idea is that I, and all the other volunteers, "represent ourselves and the whole human population of the world". | The idea is that I, and all the other volunteers, "represent ourselves and the whole human population of the world". |
People have chosen to do that in all sorts of different ways. | People have chosen to do that in all sorts of different ways. |
A surprising number have taken all their clothes off and stood here naked. | A surprising number have taken all their clothes off and stood here naked. |
But others have dressed up, or made themselves up. | But others have dressed up, or made themselves up. |
Lord Nelson looks down from his column | Lord Nelson looks down from his column |
One man covered himself in orange and black paint and looked more like a tiger than seemed humanly possible. | One man covered himself in orange and black paint and looked more like a tiger than seemed humanly possible. |
Another wrapped himself in white toilet paper, to look like an Egyptian mummy. | Another wrapped himself in white toilet paper, to look like an Egyptian mummy. |
One young man took packets of sweets onto the plinth, and threw them out to the crowd. | One young man took packets of sweets onto the plinth, and threw them out to the crowd. |
The plinth has been empty since it was built in 1841. | The plinth has been empty since it was built in 1841. |
The three in the other corners of the square are home to traditional statues. Two generals and one monarch. | The three in the other corners of the square are home to traditional statues. Two generals and one monarch. |
There was supposed to be another king up on this plinth too, but the money ran out. | There was supposed to be another king up on this plinth too, but the money ran out. |
So for the last few years it's provided a temporary setting for all sorts of works. | So for the last few years it's provided a temporary setting for all sorts of works. |
Somehow, being on a plinth makes it ok to be friendly to strangers. The sort of people who'd probably run off if I started grinning and gesticulating at them down on ground level | Somehow, being on a plinth makes it ok to be friendly to strangers. The sort of people who'd probably run off if I started grinning and gesticulating at them down on ground level |
A few minutes into my stint I start to settle into the role. | A few minutes into my stint I start to settle into the role. |
Some people shout up: "What are you doing?" I shout back: "I'm being art." | Some people shout up: "What are you doing?" I shout back: "I'm being art." |
People point, wave, and take photographs. | People point, wave, and take photographs. |
I spot friends of mine, one of my brothers, and my parents. Someone in the crowd goes to chat to them. | I spot friends of mine, one of my brothers, and my parents. Someone in the crowd goes to chat to them. |
There seem to be a lot of police officers around, he says. Am I protesting about something? | There seem to be a lot of police officers around, he says. Am I protesting about something? |
Talking of police officers, it's amazing how many of them smile and wave at me. One winks. | Talking of police officers, it's amazing how many of them smile and wave at me. One winks. |
Somehow, being on a plinth makes it ok to be friendly to strangers, the sort of people who'd probably run off if I started grinning and gesticulating at them down on ground level. | Somehow, being on a plinth makes it ok to be friendly to strangers, the sort of people who'd probably run off if I started grinning and gesticulating at them down on ground level. |
Flotsam and Jetsam. Once famous. Now forgotten | Flotsam and Jetsam. Once famous. Now forgotten |
I chose to spend my 60 minutes standing, in a dinner jacket and dress trousers, wearing a white bow tie, and playing a selection of music from the 1920s and 1930s on a portable cd player. | I chose to spend my 60 minutes standing, in a dinner jacket and dress trousers, wearing a white bow tie, and playing a selection of music from the 1920s and 1930s on a portable cd player. |
It was a tribute to the earliest days of broadcasting. | It was a tribute to the earliest days of broadcasting. |
I had tunes by Henry Hall and the BBC dance orchestra, and songs about the wireless. | I had tunes by Henry Hall and the BBC dance orchestra, and songs about the wireless. |
Comedy acts like Flotsam and Jetsam, singing about "little Betty Bouncer" who's fallen in love with an announcer. | Comedy acts like Flotsam and Jetsam, singing about "little Betty Bouncer" who's fallen in love with an announcer. |
And Norman Strong mocking the producers who wouldn't let him broadcast any of his songs - all deemed far too risqué for the radio. | And Norman Strong mocking the producers who wouldn't let him broadcast any of his songs - all deemed far too risqué for the radio. |
A list of names who were once among the most famous in the land. | A list of names who were once among the most famous in the land. |
But most of them now long forgotten. | But most of them now long forgotten. |
But then, General Sir Charles James Napier and Major General Sir Henry Havelock are commemorated in bronze on plinths in the Square. | But then, General Sir Charles James Napier and Major General Sir Henry Havelock are commemorated in bronze on plinths in the Square. |
I doubt if people walking past know much about them either. | I doubt if people walking past know much about them either. |
'Petros was here' | 'Petros was here' |
Taking part in the project, then, made me reflect on who we celebrate. And how long fame lasts. | Taking part in the project, then, made me reflect on who we celebrate. And how long fame lasts. |
Someone who was on the plinth before me has tried to make sure his memory lingers on. He's written: "Petros was here" in permanent marker pen on the platform. | Someone who was on the plinth before me has tried to make sure his memory lingers on. He's written: "Petros was here" in permanent marker pen on the platform. |
Every time I go through Trafalgar Square in future I intend to boast about having been part of this project. | Every time I go through Trafalgar Square in future I intend to boast about having been part of this project. |
It'll go nicely with my tale about the time that I broadcast live from the top of Nelson's Column, while stonemasons were working on it. | It'll go nicely with my tale about the time that I broadcast live from the top of Nelson's Column, while stonemasons were working on it. |
But this wasn't - I have to confess - the first time I've been art. | But this wasn't - I have to confess - the first time I've been art. |
Once for a report, I lay down on the floor of one of London's most famous galleries. | Once for a report, I lay down on the floor of one of London's most famous galleries. |
A Spanish tourist asked where she could buy a postcard of me. | A Spanish tourist asked where she could buy a postcard of me. |
But that's another story. | But that's another story. |
Previous version
1
Next version