Comments

An invitation to ask people to stand on the plinth for one hour at a time, in my opinion is good one, but somehow it does not work. Why I think so? Well there is not an element of surprise with the performance. As you mentioned Jim, it almost looks, as participants are feelings embarrassed. As with anything, I think that the act needs a manuscript so that it would entertain passersby. A grand platform deserves it. A mind provoking entry, thank you Jim.

If you had one hour in a public place like this what would you do? Hi Jim, you have put us an interesting question. I imagined as a religious leader standing on the plinth. I was preaching God’s message and asked the people to turn away from the sin. The big question here is, will people listen one hour preaching. People may say mute preacher. It may be a waste of time for those who don’t believe God. They may not like actions. Then I decided why I don’t stand like a politician. Some times people may laugh at it and other time they may compassion it. I was asking people through actions about their complaints and grievances. They could easily understand about various welfare measures taken by the government and asked them to make use of it. It is easy for them because most of the time they do not know what and why politician are doing. They are mere spectators. Again I thought it is a waste of money. After all the entire politician are using the public money. Since I am a social worker I thought of doing social service while standing in front of the public on the plinth. I could see different kinds of people with variety of problems. I could not laugh and cry. I simply stand more than one hour.

Hi Jim, I watched on Tv news some days ago, but I didn't catch the real intention. Reading your post I think that some guy has thought a new way for wasteing money and try to take economical advantage from it. There is no previous planification, there are no artists. Final result? An exercise of copy/paste editing a stupid film and some ridiculous study maked-up of something similar to 'social issue'. See you, Toni.

Hi Jim, I wrote intruded into the mango groves. You have corrected it to sneaked. Now I understood how I could improve my vocabulary and use it in that context. I am nearing 45. I find difficult to memorize the new word. When I saw the reply to the comments of Abdisamad, I felt very bad that learning the new language is closing connected with the age also. I should have improved it long back. Any how I should not give up improving my learning English language.

Hi Jim! You said you didn’t have a chance to travel to Jeju island in Korea in the previous your entry, so I’ve decided to give a virtual tour of the place. I’ve been there twice, and I fell in love with it immediately. It is surround by all sorts of beautiful nature such as beaches, mountains, palm trees and so on. Most of Korean People particularly climb up Hallasan during all four seasons as it has very distinctive, picturesque and magnificent atmosphere throughout the year. It is carpeted with countless azaleas and wild flowers in spring. People from young and old get together at the beauty spot to hold a festival of a royal azalea when the flowers are in full blossom. There is also a huge lake called Backnockdam, which was created by an eruption of a volcano on the summit of it. According to the local lore, a serpent used to live in it, but somehow it went to glory, and other captivating legends hand down generation after generation by word of mouth. The crater’s water is blue and pacifying like the fine and bright autumn sky. It’s rare, but, as luck would have it, you might see the bottom of the lake. If you want to have a bumpy ride on a small fishing boat at night and catch some fish and have the freshest raw fish instantly with a wine glass of Korean alcohol, Soju and Korean hot pepper sauce you can hire a boat and go out to a pitch-black sea, where you can only hear an orchestra of dancing and lapping waves against the side of the boat. The sensation may overpower you, and you might feel you are an insignificant speck of dust in the universe. But the feeling of diminution will disappear, as soon as you see the lights from the other fishing boats shimmering on the water in the distance. The sea will take on life! It is also well-known place to have very skilful women divers, who dive into deep water and pick up all kinds of shell like sea squirts, top shells, slugs, shellfishes and so on. In addition to all, there are more gorgeous natural parks you don’t want to miss. Jesu is definitely one of must-see destinations in Korea.I hope the tour gives you a picture what Jeju island is like, and you’ll have another opportunity to visit Korea and travel around the island soon. People in the island are lovely and friendly so they will give a rapturous reception with often arms.

Hello, Jim! It looks like those ‘plinthers’ like acting, cause’ they go out and perform in front of the crowd. It seems that they can learn something new about themselves by performing but I don’t know if anyone else from the crowd will be able to learn anything about anything. The idea of presenting art like this is good, I mean ordinary people making art.

Hi Jim, Your question is very interesting, but I didn't get the exact logic behind it-standing unnecessarily for one hour. Nor, do I think that this is any form of art. It's just waste of time and money. If I would have to stand in a public place, I would have taken a folding chair(because wheel chairs are allowed) and a good book, and instead of getting embarrased I would have engrossed myself in the book. I would also think about giving a sermon, but then it had to be on moral issues, and no one will listen to my one hour sermon. Why can't they tell them to speak about the history of the place in an illustrative way, it should be one hour's session they could take the help of the slides if possible. Best regards and take care.

Hi Jim, Thanks for the feedback! I've been thinking what standing for an hour in public has to do with art. And I concluded that we could grin or have a fit of the giggles while watching. But we're very much trained only to accept framed art, artifacts or performances as art. The idea of me performing in a public space is like an illusion. By the way, I go to Paris to meet my daughter (an exchange student) next week and I may have a chance to see a plinther.

Hi Jim! You said you didn’t have a chance to travel to Jeju island in Korea in the previous your entry, so I’ve decided to give you a virtual tour of the place. I’ve been there twice, and I fell in love with it immediately. It is surround by all sorts of beautiful nature such as beaches, mountains, palm trees and so on. Most of Korean People particularly climb up Hallasan during all four seasons as it has very distinctive, picturesque and magnificent atmosphere throughout the year. It is carpeted with countless azaleas and wild flowers in spring. People from young and old get together at the beauty spot to hold a festival of a royal azalea when the flowers are in full blossom. There is also a huge lake called Backnockdam, which was created by an eruption of a volcano on the summit of it. According to the local lore, a serpent used to live in it, but somehow it went to glory, and other captivating legends hand down generation after generation by word of mouth. The crater’s water is blue and pacifying like the fine and bright autumn sky. It’s rare, but, as luck would have it, you might see the bottom of the lake. If you want to have a bumpy ride on a small fishing boat and catch some fish and have the freshest raw fish instantly with a wine glass of Korean alcohol, Soju and Korean hot pepper sauce at night you can hire a boat and go out to a pitch-black sea, where you can only hear an orchestra of dancing and lapping waves against the side of the boat. The sensation may overpower you, and you might feel you are an insignificant speck of dust in the universe. But the feeling of diminution will disappear, as soon as you see the lights from the other fishing boats shimmering on the water in the distance. The lights give the see enliven and the sea takes on life! It is also well-known place to have very skilful women divers who dive into deep water without high-tech equipments and pick up all kinds of shell like sea squirts, top shells, slugs, shellfishes and so on. In addition to all, there are more gorgeous natural parks you don’t want to miss. The weather is tropical from spring to summer, and People in the island are lovely and friendly. Jesu is definitely one of must-see destinations in Korea.I hope the tour helps you to get a grip on it and also gives you a vivid picture what the Island is like. Hope you’ll have another opportunity to visit my wonderful country and travel around the Jesu soon. The place will not disappoint you!

Hi Jim, Interesting topic. Continous standing on a plinth either with a particular shape or without any emotion on a face to amuse people (especially children), is really a difficult task. It must be helpful for making your will power strong. I feel by this practice you can judge / check your physical strength also. Here, many people, at their home, pray God daily by standing on one leg with folded hands for a long time (say upto half hour or more. But I agree that standing at public place is difficult task. Thanks

Hello Jim, I enjoyed reading your posts and read all of them so far,they are very interesting and informative; I've never heard about the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square and Gormley project.Nobody answered your quiz question:'Who's the fellow standing on top of the column in the picture?' It's King George IV.

Hi, Jim..I think it is art!becouse it take us to reflect about ourselves and what are the meaning of the action and answer the question by showing that something good must be done instead of stay at the same place for hours!! I would something or reflect about the behavior of the people around, I do not think it is a waste of time or money becouse its value is in the human being reflectionon its attitudeor absent of it.

Hello Jim! I think a bit of music would be great. In São Paulo there was a project in which a piano was left at the train stations, therefore anyone who wants to play could have a go. Some people played very well and it was nice to stop and hear them playing :-). Good bye, Ana Paula.

Hi Jim, it's very interesting to learn about the fourth plinth. It's like a platform for common people especially who know something and want to show it to others. But admitting to the fact, if I'm given the opportunity to be a plinther I wouldn't be comfortable to show even what I am good at. Best wishes, Naheed

Hmm...art. I believe it's quite difficult to define it. Some would argue that art as such should give across some sort of meaning, a message, sth. that would make us think. I'm not really sure that art should be thought-provoking, though. As I see it, it's enough if it triggers some emotions; that it makes you stop for a moment and say, 'Wow, that's beautiful/interesting/ugly…’. But understanding it? I don’t know… Van Gogh wasn’t understood during his lifetime and now his paintings are worth millions and a lot of people actually admire his art. What about Jackson Pollock? (OK, he was immediately famous, but is it easy to decipher his art?) What about the so called ‘happening’? Does anybody actually understand it? Yet, they call it art. And so the performance you write about is probably also art for someone. I imagine there are two types of plinthers who want to perform. The first is an exhibitionist/fun-maker, you know, some teenager who wants to impress his friends and doesn’t really see it as a form of art; and there is the second type, the visionary who knows what they are doing there and actually see some meaning in it. Probably, the rest of us just need time to find sth. more in it. For the time being, it just catches attention. People are curious so they stop and watch. They are waiting for something to happen as in Waiting for Godot, and therefore, I just might say that I think ‘plintherisem’ (I know, I’ve just made it up ) is art. Would I do it? Never. Is it a complete waste of time and money? I don’t know, time will tell. Time is the best judge- as always. Regarding your quiz: I’ve no idea who that person is. I’d say he must be an Old Greek or Roman because of the gown he’s wearing, but that’s just a rough guess. Maybe he’s Homer????? Bye.