What is called the ‘fourth plinth’ in London’s Trafalgar Square is the resting place for a series of varied pieces of artwork that are displayed, one at a time, for many months. There is no theme for these with the consequence that our eyes get to feast on a range of interesting, and sometimes unusual works.
The skeleton on the plinth, shown in the picture, is that of a horse – well it is not a real skeleton but the replication of one. It may not be clear in the picture but there is a large metallic bow tied around its front left leg. The bow strangely has a moving record of the latest share prices displayed in large white writing.
I understand that the whole piece, designed by German-American artist Hans Haacke, has differing interpretations. Such as a dark horse. It could also be interpreted as a take on the austerity years and hence Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson’s comment about an ’emancipated quadruped’. I’ll leave you to think of your ‘take’.
As always the reaction to the image on the plinth is mixed – as it so often is with art. I have refrained from using the term sculpture, as it is the creation of a lifelike skeleton rather than the use of imagination to record the artist’s inner thought, which may have not looked anything like a real skeleton.
I took the picture a few months ago. Normally I write a comment fairly soon after, but on this occasion it has rested in my photographs, and periodically surfaces in my mind. I guess you can say that the artist has achieved some inner reaction, as the image will not go away; perhaps by writing about it, it will clear the mental space it has been unintentionally occupying.
This got me thinking about the impact that art can have on us. There was uproar at the Paris Salon in 1865 when the painting, ‘Olympia’, by Manet, was accepted for the annual exhibition. Yet this was the start of a new cultural revolution and his friends, who became know as the Impressionists, changed the whole world of painting.
Whilst I don’t think this skeletal horse will have started a new revolution in the art world, it does raise the question as to what we can do, and what our businesses can do to create that extra edge. That takes us away from conformity, out of the crowd, allows our uniqueness to shine.
So the question I will put some serious thinking into before I take action is to ask:
“Is my ‘art’ in the world a mere replication of something that is; and if so, what am I going to do to create a mini revolution with something different in my world…..and when?”
How about you?
My good wishes,
Peter
