The Fourth Plinth

Sculpture · Charing Cross ·

The Fourth Plinth

Sculpture · Charing Cross ·

Displays rotating international artwork in London's Trafalgar Square

Information

Trafalgar Sq, London WC2N 5NJ, United Kingdom Get directions

@matadornetwork

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Art and Culture in London

"Trafalgar Square, with its fountains and the iconic Nelson Column surrounded by four lions, is London’s most popular public square. Located just in front of the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square is used for free cultural festivals, live street performances, political demonstrations, and public concerts. The Fourth Plinth stands tall in the northwest corner of the square and exhibits national and international artwork that is selected by a commissioning group every two years. Since March 2018, the piece displayed is The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist by artist Michael Rakowitz, a replica of an artifact destroyed by the Islamic State in Mosul in 2005. The Fourth Plinth is free to view and a great way to experience London’s art scene if you don’t have enough time to visit a gallery." - MATADOR_NETWORK

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The Fourth Plinth

@matadornetwork

1,344 Postcards · 344 Cities

Trafalgar Square Fourth Plinth

https://matadornetwork.com/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/art-culture/

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The Fourth Plinth

@silverkris

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Best places for art in London - SilverKris

"A small plinth in the northwest corner of Trafalgar Square that sat empty for more than 150 years after funds ran short for an intended equestrian statue of William IV, it has since been repurposed as a high-profile site for rotating, one-off commissioned works that add an unexpected and often topical edge to the square." - SilverKris

https://silverkris.singaporeair.com/inspiration/arts-culture/galleries-museums/best-places-for-art-in-london/

The Fourth Plinth

UK Photo J.

Google

I love this platform of displaying objects and sculptures which are changing every year. The Fourth Plinth commission team decides which artwork to choose. The Fourth Plinth is located in the Trafalgar Square corner. So the artworks on plinth have been being changed as now we have the artwork titled Antelope by Samson Kambalu.

Asad Z.

Google

In each corner of Trafalgar Square is a plinth: three have statues of decorated military officers – Henry Havelock, Charles James Napier and King George IV – while the fourth, intended for a statue of William IV, stayed empty for 150 years as the government ran out of money. Cue the Royal Society of Arts, who launched the Fourth Plinth Project in the 1990s. Heather Phillipson’s The End has been on display since 2020, and at the end of 2022 it will be replaced with Antelope by Samson Kambalu.

na p.

Google

I love huge displays so made an effort to visit The Fourth Plinth by Heather Phillipson. It is a cool oversized softserve or cream with a cherry on top. On the side is this realistic fly and a drone which captures and steams live. It was difficult finding the link for streaming but managed to find it in the end after I had left!

Piotr A.

Google

I love this project. The Fourth Plinth commission team decides which artwork to choose. So the artworks on plinth have been being changed. Now we have the artwork titled Antelope by Samson Kambalu Antelope presents Malawian Baptist preacher John Nkologo Chilembwe and European missionary John Chorley. Name of the sculpture derives from the fact that Chilembwe's hat rises to two peaks, like antelope horns. I wonder what artwork will be next.

dave p

Google

Funds ran out when it came to putting a permanent sculpture on the fourth plinth so every couple of years or so, a piece of artwork is commissioned by a panel led by the Lord Mayor. A great idea with some very controversial choices.

Nathan J.

Google

What we set on the Plinth reflects our aspirations, our priorities, our instructions to those who come after us. So when we visited Trafalgar Square last week to behold a giant ready-to-melt soft serve ice cream upon which rested a cherry, a giant house fly, and a quad drone livecasting its camera inputs to the internet, I was satisfied. This, I thought, is perfect. Western Civilization is safe for another generation.

Adri São B.

Google

Great place to learn about a contemporary art project. The sculpture changes every two years.

Adrian M.

Google

The fourth plinth is such a great idea: commissioned artworks to fill an otherwise empty space. So not another general or war hero but a comment on 21st century life including this year's piece: a magnificent winged bull from Nineveh made from Iraqi date syrup cans.