The First Day in Photos
Yesterday I asked you all to send in your photos and pop them on Flickr. There's been a marvellous response. I think we might even have photos of almost the whole first day:
First of all, though, there's a video, made by dotgeriladotcom as a stop frame animation of the day:
Then there's the empty plinth waiting for its first occupant. This by Simon Crubelier:
Here's aarkangel's shot of the 'warm up' act, Stuart, who leapt onto the plinth to protest smoking on stage:
First plinther Rachel Wardell waving to the camera, by One Other:
A lady was selling balloons on the Square. This by Where the Art Is:
Suren dressed in a panda costume and invited people to call him on the plinth. When he came down he'd received over 100 text messages and received a call from Japan. (This photo by Where the Art Is again):
Another one from Where the Art Is:
Chrisjohnbeckett took a wonderful photo of Ishvinder Matharu launching a paper aeroplane from the plinth:
Then came Stephen Roser. I was lucky enough to be on my dinner break during his slot, and watched him with my photographer friend, Alex. Stephen was a real crowd pleaser, throwing Green and Black's chocolate into the crowd. It just so happened that some of the other One & Other team were on their break too, and they got showered with chocolates - too bad!
You can see a load more photos by going to Alex's blog. Stephen also at one point asked his audience to 'boo' the BNP for a minute. I noticed Kyron taking a video of it and asked him to pop it on YouTube:
That's it for our first day in photos! If you snap something or take a video, do let us know about it: add it to our Flickr group or pop it on YouTube with the tag 'oneandother'.
Happy plinthwatching!
73 Responses
leave a responseThanks Holly, I especially like Simon Crubelier's photo, amazing colours.
Stop motion cameras make the plinth look good too. Good accompanying tune!
because I am a stool !!
[well actually, now I'm a fish, but I don't have a joke for that yet..]
Boooo!
Pleeeeaazzeee, if there are any 'Prospective Plinthians' reading this and you are planning to take a sign up FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE MAKE THE FONT SIZE AS BIG AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN !!!!
The six-inch letters on the blackboard yesterday were clearly visible, the two-inch writing on 'fish man's placard is only barely visible under even the best conditions.
What is annoying is that it is not even as if he doesn't have room to make the writing bigger - most of the sign is empty space [sigh] - and the writing must be totally invisible to those on the ground.
Remember...
Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance !!
What a fabulous idea to get the word out to the world and to Britons... Wondering if one of you plinthers could hold up a sign for the global art exhibition and project, A BOOK ABOUT DEATH, which invites artists and creatives of all flavors to send in 500 postcards of a work or image or text that touches upon the subject of death: War, Disease, Iran, Loved Ones, The Environment... anything. The exhibition takes place in NYC on September 10, 2009 at The Emily Harvey Foundation. See the entries already in the gallery here:
http://abookaboutdeath.blogspot.com/
And contribute...
Thank you Plinthers!
Matthew Rose/ Paris, France
Is there a list anywhere of who's on when? It'd be useful to say who was on the live feed too!
Holly,
I printed a copy of the schedule for who was on yeserday and it was really useful and interesting to be able to see their name and time slot throughout the day. Is that available each day and where can we access it please?
A fantastic idea, from a fantastic artist - will search out the schedule on the website now I have read that there is one. Would be great to have a way to look at each days 24 plinthers in a short youtube type clip so we don't miss the middle-of-the-night wonders. Thanks to all involved, especially Mr Gormley.
Is there any way that you can rearrange the camera shot or the Sky logo? On the website, in many of the shots the logo completely obscures the person standing on the plinth.
The Guardian has quite a good One & Other section on its website. It includes a 'Who's who on the plinth today' section.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/fourth-plinth
Im loving these photos. thinking about heading down there and taking a few of my own
Thanks for that link Rob, I've just had a look and you're right, the Guardian website is a good one so I've saved it to my favourites.
Since my last post, I've just read through the comments on the Guardian website. What a load of uninformed, childish bickering. I'll just use the site for the day's schedule until one is sorted for this site.
It's a great idea, maybe they could get a mic on the plinth so we hear what the plinthers are saying to the crowd. Can't stop checking in every hour.
please ask plinthers not to take mobiles up with them - there is nothing more boring than seeing people texting or taking calls. This may be your one opportunity in life to say or do something INTERESTING! Eating chips, reading or texting is very very dull indeed.
I loved the video of the one minute booing of the BNP. BOOOOO!
Mr Gormley! Are you paying attention to what is going on? What promised to be a life affirming and thought provoking art project is rapidly turning into the world's longest yawn. In the name of God man introduce some standards in order to raise the creativity to a more exalted level. I swear Admiral Lord Nelson would walk away if he could.
Hello,
Can we please have a log of each person - 24 per day - with a few lines about them, what they did and a photo.
Not asking much is it ?
Thank you and good luck.
Why cant I get the live webstream on my computer
Paul Burrows 14 03 is missing the point. This is not 2400 works of art that all have to be of a high standard, whatever that may be it is one work of art. The whole picture represents the totallity of this country. In some ways his view is like looking at 2sq cm of a great master painting and saying this bit of yellow is not very interesting.
Obviously it is slightly skewed to young, artistic, exhibitionists as one would expect but already we have seen people out to make money (The bar owner), "artists expressing themselves, either simply to do it or perhaps some want to be seen for career purposes, people who want to do "good" whether this is raising funds for charity or getting people to say hello and give money to strangers, people just getting on with their lives and texting, and people using it as a personal reflection. Apart from the boo the bnp i have not yet seen people with a massive political agenda but I'm sure there will be some including some I disagree with. In short it is a reasonable picture in total of us now. In many ways it is like the time capsules often buried under buildings. they contain all sorts of dross (one in my home town included M& S underwear) but the idea is that taken as a whole they produce a good picture. I personally am enjoying the different aspects of the large canvass
At last someone with common sense who has an open mind and appreciates the project as a whole!
Hi, I am on next tuesday. the whole camera coverage thing has changed, i was hoping to be watched from above as i will be writing a large message on large paper. it wont be seen if the camera angles are as they are today. Are you going back to viewing from above?????
all in all very interesting so far, but am still apprehensive.
H
I know this is a project designed to include everyone. I appreciate that. However all the people going up to eat their lunch or sketch the scene, or hold up a slogan. Maybe you could think of something more interesting? about you and you life. You are more interesting than you think. Take a chance
Wow! Now this is better... We know the story behind the person standing on the plinth... It changes everything for the better.
I am now empathic, and each person comes to life.
They are no longer pathic.
I just have one wish... some of them would be a little more imaginative, there seem to be many people doing the same things. And I have not seen a very mixed group of people up there yet. All very middle class... This Britain is far more interesting than this.
I saw the someone in these blogs said something regarding the 'If they have selected talent then it wouldn't true to Britain', but I am sure they really have missed the point. This moment, than hour, is and should be about inspiring the country, the world... Sadly, Susan Boyle... Did that in a 3 minute song...
Looks to me like the wrong videos have been posted on previous plinthers' links.... has this been noticed?
We are all the center of our own universe. We appear to ourselves as larger than life. When we become the center of everyone else's universe, as could be represented by the plinth, the truth is we are all very, very small.
Hello guys. Thanks for all of you support yesterday. I've uploaded some photos from my slot to the Flickr group and I've been writing about my experience on the plinth here: http://ruemeese.wordpress.com/category/plinth/
Very disappointed at the night time view - can't see a thing! Why aren't you lighting it?
If Julie Duffy of Manchester (she of the black and white umbrella) is reading this, I wanted to give you a great big hug for staying so cheerful when the clouds opened.
Worth ALL THE MONEY this has cost to hear the bassoon playing Ivor the Engine !!!! Fantastic !!! Worth missing Newsnight for - this is what the kids want !!!!
Hi. Apparently only UK citizens can apply to be a Plinthian. Is that true? That really saddens me, as I would love to get up that plinth but since I'm from the Netherlands I'm barred from entering. Or is there a way for non-UK citizens to be included?
To Johan - a Dutch plinth is called for!
Ah - from the sublime to the ridiculous...
Computer says no...
As a resident I would love to say that he doesn't accurately represent all Bristolians, but let us be honest, many native Bristolians are just like him.
It takes a certain courage to do this
When someone reads from a book or plays recorded music, who pays the author's Royalties ?
Just a thought. :)
They've improved the lighting and sound as well as added the info panel - well done and thank you, technical people !
Experience seeking Bristolian: To be honest, I didn't really listen to the words, but I enjoyed his continued enthusiasm and good humour, especially after an hour !
Makes a nice change to see some people on the plinth without mobiles welded to their faces - I hope Dom Jolly gets a slot and shouts HELLO a lot.
There's a Wikipedia entry for One & Other at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_and_Other
which could be expanded with more details.
Interesting reflections Tim.
Thankyou Goose for bringing something to think about to the plinth
I wonder who is expected to provide all the water for those biliions of "water closets"?
surely its more about hygene without water ......just a thought......
I wonder who is expected to provide all the water for those biliions of "water closets"?
surely its more about hygene without water ......just a thought......
I am enjoying looking at the webcam from time to time instead of working but am I alone in thinking that the fact that the pcture is signifcantly delayed detracts from the experience? Is the delay just in case someone does something really offesive? If that is so then I think that is a little too much nannying for a project like this.
Jim B: I don't understand, how does a delay detract from the experience? How would anyone even notice?
What's happened on the individual plinthers' pages you cant read the pledge dedications any more :(
Jim B: I don't understand, how does a delay detract from the experience? How would anyone even notice?
oops! (sorry, my page refreshed and re-sent my post, or something !?!)
Oh... Is life there so dull? Is Britain so dull?
The space on top of that plinth seems to imprison each and almost every person standing on it.
They will of course change when they feel they are the framed animal, so the idea that such a project can capture anything about a nation is quite foolish.
Is it art? Well really anything can be called art.
It's really more of a social experiment. The mice have devised this to test how dull we can be, while keeping the rest of us watching. Hoping we'll forget about the recession and the though of what ever happened to 42.
Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.
The Plinth is a good idea, unfortunately sabotaged when used as a platform to show how boring and uncreative one can be on a cell phone, texting or just sitting.
The world is watching what you have to offer!
Good grief! Watching an empty plinth is more interesting than watching this person. He must be the most boring man in London and London is a big place!
I've been excited about this concept from day one and it's great fun to watch it unfold and come to life. Please all, do remember the Plinthians aren't up there to entertain. Thankfully this has not become yet another, "so and so's got talent" show, this is conceptual art at it's best. I've not been selected as of yet, here's hoping for a slot come September or October, and I will do my best to not entertain the masses! Thank you Mr. Gormley
Watching embarrassed middle class people in anoraks is definitely better than Big Brother.
Has anyone else discovered that you can register as many times as you like under different names?
It appears that I will be on the plinth continuously throughout August and September.
I will be dressed as Anthony Gormley and each of his sculptures in a 24 hour revolving sequence.
Oh for God's sake change the record you whingers! How many times do you have to be told: THIS IS NOT A TALENT SHOW! No one up there is obliged to impress you in any way. What they do, if anything, is entirely their choice. So why are you bothering to watch?
BetheB
"...this is conceptual art at it's best."
Oh... Please, please get out of you house... go to see some of the world...
archimbollocks
"...Watching embarrassed middle class people in anoraks.."
So very true, they so wanna be special, want to be loved... But they are so very grey...
I am so disappointed, was there a guide to what they could do? Or did someone give them a limited choice of things they can do??
Please select one of the following;
A. Wear an animal suit
B. Silently watch the tourists
C. Draw / photograph the surrounding buildings
D. Throw paper air planes
E. Or do something really scary and use your imagination
"I will be dressed as Anthony Gormley ..."
That would be good, in an interview he said he has applied twice for a place and still hasn't got one ! You can save him the trouble.
:)
Life is a talent show...
'Life is a talent show' - sorry?
No need to apologise...
If art is meant to engage us with other humans in some form of consideration of life, universe and everything, then ONE AND OTHER is most definitely doing that. If only to see just how many words a critic can be paid to write in the Evening Standard when all they are trying to say is "I didn't like it". Well just looking at the webcam, and popping into the Square whenever I can, I can see that it is engaging with people. It's doing something. Its giving us some fun. Thank you to all involved. Now it is up to the individual participants to think of extraordinary and wonderful ways to use their hour.
Chris
archimbollocks - a quick note - if you do get a place you will have to bring photographic proof of identity with your name and address on it before you will be allowed on the plinth, so please don't register lots of times under lots of different names! If you do get selected several times you'll only have to reject the slot and that will give us at the office a lot more work trying to replace you!
I especially enjoyed EP at 12pm 8th July. Yellow planes with messages. Loved the way the crowd got involved.
Non object based art can be more than some arcane, Turner prize winning piece of flash art. Gormley is paddling difficult waters but most definitely with a paddle.
Dear Holly,
I was only teasing about multiple applications. Actually I am jealous because I couldn't get a place, in spite of the fact that I would be the London's first nude plinther since Eros.
Love from,
Archimbollocks
Dear Holly,
could you please give a place to Archimbollocks, I'd love to see his human condition on display ...
get gilbert and george up to reenact their 60's underneath the arches.
Chris G wrote:
''If art is meant to engage us with other humans...''
No... that is what communication is, not art.
Art is an interpretation of an idea, which is then recorded in some sort substance. Others then make a reading of the communication (this is of course informed by their socio-cultural context, and experience)
This is has not really happened yet, but maybe like a good wine and some sort of group learning what works and who's already done it... I should guess the 'sixty minuters' might just make it more than just it's parts.
Dear another person on a chair etc,
Yes, I should be given a place on the plinth for my nude performance.
UK please vote for me.
Would it help if I told you I have five members?
(My god, how do your underpants fit?
...like a glove!)
Love from Archimbollocks
I do not like the title "Plinthers" and would rather be one of "The 2400" (The Twenty-Four Hundred).
How about 'Plinth Charmings'?
Maybe 'narcists'?? :D
Lots of us call ourselves Plinthians :)
Some also note their number ie: 147/2400 etc.
Why are some of the windows of the National Gallery blocked out?
http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/steand
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