The empty plinth: contemporary British artists appear unable to rise to the challenge of public sculpture, as the arguments over new sculptures for Trafalgar Square make all too obvious.(Architecture)

From: Apollo | Date: December 1, 2005| Author: Stamp, Gavin | Copyright information

If the King had had his way, the public space in front of the National Gallery would be William iv Square rather than being named after Nelson's great victory over the Franco-Spanish fleet. Like so much in England, this urban focus--in fact an irregular pentagon rather than a square--was created by accident rather than design. Trafalgar Square is a consequence of the removal of the old Royal Mews combined with the contemporary street improvements being carried out by that sole, sym...

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