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Antony Gormley in front of his artwork

Fourth plinth concepts are unveiled

Meerkats, a ship in a bottle, or a big mirror... these are some of the choices for the next sculpture to sit on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. We've been sizing up the contenders and you've been telling us what you think below...

Six new artworks proposed for the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square have been unveiled.

Tracey Emin's meerkats concept

Among those vying for the position is Tracey Emin's sculpture of a small group of meerkats and a scale replica of Nelson's ship, HMS Victory, designed by London-born artist Yinka Shonibare.

Plans for the plinth to be used as an ever-changing artwork display date back to mayor Ken Livingstone's 2003 initiative.

The site - in the north-west corner of Trafalgar Square - is currently occupied by Thomas Schutte's Model for a Hotel 2007, an eight-ton, 16ft (5m) sculpture made from coloured glass.

solar-powered structure

Alongside Emin and Shonibare, the shortlisted artists are Jeremy Deller, Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor and Bob and Roberta Smith.

"The sign says make art not war... in French, powered by the wind and the sun..."
Artist Bob Smith on his fourth plinth concept

As part of a public consultation, people will be asked which one of the artists' models they prefer and why.

Brother and sister team Bob and Roberta Smith's creation is a wind and solar-powered structure.

Mr Smith said: "The sign says make art not war... in French, powered by the wind and the sun.

Yinka Shonibare's replica of HMS Victory

"The plinth has no power and you can't drill into it so I wanted to battle with those things and make something very tall that had a light show on it. We have done all the science on it and it will work."

A permanent King William IV statue was intended for the fourth plinth but a lack of funds meant it remained empty.

Experts gave up trying to find a permanent fixture for it in the early 1990s, because no-one could agree on what was appropriate.

five concave mirrors

The current sculpture, installed in November last year, replaced Marc Quinn's Alison Lapper Pregnant.

Models of the proposed works by the six shortlisted artists will be on show at the National Gallery until 30 March and the winner will be announced in May.

The artwork will be installed in 2009. Here are the shortlisted pieces:

Jeremy Deller's The Spoils of War depicts the remains of a civilian vehicle destroyed in Iraq
Anish Kapoor's Sky Plinth is five concave mirrors cantilevering off the plinth "displaying" the clouds
Tracey Emin said her sculpture of a small group of meerkats symbolises unity and safety
Yinka Shonibare's sculpture is a scale replica of Nelson's ship, HMS Victory, in a giant glass bottle
Antony Gormley wants to ask members of the public to stand on the plinth for an hour each to occupy it for constantly for 12 months
Bob and Roberta Smith's wind and solar-powered creation sends the message, make art not war.

Have Your Say

PAMELA C
MEERKATS, BECAUSE IT'S QUIRKY & NOT SERIOUS LIKE LONDON SHOULD BE X

mary neary
it has got to be Anish Kapoor, it will help people to actually look up in the sky and remind them that nothing is permenant - hopefully resulting in a more relaxed london

amanda's class
thank you for helping us to have an interesting lesson from University of the Arts Academic English class

Faisal
IN which gallery these artworks are unveiled please?

Elizabeth Markham
I like anthony gormleys idea, could be very interesting in the early hours of the morning.

A Williams
With our long line of royalty, heroic military figures, famous playwrights, actors, pioneers of world technology and engineering - Tracy Emin has got it right - let's stick Meerkats on top of that fourth plinth.

Lara Bonici
I would like to see the ship in a bottle on the 4th plinth. I feel the connection with Nelson is very appropriate and would be the best temporary exhibit we have had so far.

David Joberns
We prefer the ship in the bottle. The others are too silly.

jean cushway
One of the following:Anish Kapoor's sky plinth. I like clouds against a blue sky but what happens at night and in the winter? Are we just left with 5 black holes or mirrors reflecting traffic lights? or Antony Gormley's people. This could be quite could fun. I dread to think what the night models might get up to, but yes it could be good fun.

Thanasia
Antony Gormley's idea is great - it develops the themes of loneliness and community that his bronze structures do. It's interesting too!

Bridget,Beth and Alex
I still believe the Antony Gormley plinth is a great idea as it's original and sounds like a great thing to do as a family

Lynne A
It's got to be the Meerkats! Unity, safety and a great example of community.

C Davison
London is changing all the time. A constantly altering exhibit would not go stale and be thought provoking for residents and tourists alike

Rod Hedges
It has to be the Ship in the Bottle. I'm sure Nelson would agree!

Fiona G
People standing on the plinth? Sounds like fun, I can just imagine the mobile phone pictures sent to friends and family. But what about the safety aspect and during the hours of nightfall?

AK
I like the idea of the meerkats, it's a symbology that is timeless.

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