A gigantic cock is poised to occupy the Fourth Plinth of Trafalgar Square.
Katharina Fritsch’s bright blue Cock is expected to divide opinion. The cockerel will be joined by a small boy on a rocking horse.
“It’s a gigantic blue cock in Trafalgar Square, there’s no getting around that,” said Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, as he unveiled the winning proposals.
“In 2013, Trafalgar Square is going to be displaying a gigantic French cockerel. For people who worry that it represents some kind of French takeover of Tralfgar Square, the only consolation I can offer is that we will still have Nelson looking down from the top of his column.”
The boy on the rocking horse is said to celebrate “the heroism of growing up”.
Fourth Plinth rocking horse artist Michael Elmgreen said that the work was intended to be “a little mocking” of the “important admirals and general and war heroes” who take pride of place in the square.
“Everything is not about victory or defeat. The work is very much about the non-sensational, the less spectacular side of life in Trafalgar Square.
“There’s a tradition for monuments that are authoritarian. I remember, as a child, coming to London and being a bit scared of these black bronzes on horseback.
“Heroic can be something that is different to winning a war. That child is heroic because he is not fighting. Isn’t it better to raise a monument in hope of peace rather than to celebrate victory? In any victory there are victims.”
German artist Fritsch hopes her work will make people smile because of its double meaning.
She said: “I think the cock will be a nice addition to the square. The place is very male-dominated, with all thse admirals and generals.”
