Redland High Reception on the Fourth Plinth

Mrs Heather Kent, who is the Receptionist at Redland High received a good reception when she appeared on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square on 6 October.

The Fourth Plinth is the name given to the empty plinth in the north-west corner of Trafalgar Square in London. It was originally designed by Sir Charles Barry and built in 1841 to display an equestrian statue. There were not enough funds available at the time to create a statue and so the plinth was sometimes referred to as the 'empty plinth'.

About Heather Kent

“I'm a 53 year old mum living with my partner and working at Redland High. I was very excited, if a bit apprehensive about spending an hour on the plinth. My son lives close by and thinks it's awesome. I am delighted to be able to be involved in one of Anthony Gormley's projects. I think I can contribute to a portrait of Britain because I am just an ordinary person getting on with life. Since I put my name down I have seen 102 Gormley's, via Manchester, Crosby and Gateshead - you have to get into the spirit of the thing!

I was on from 6.00 - 7.00 am when it was still dark and quite quiet. The time of day was a factor. Having breakfast and going to work seem like appropriate themes. The mundane things of life are important, even if we take them for granted.”

About the Plinth

In 1998 the RSA commissioned a series of three works - by Mark Wallinger, Bill Woodrow, and Rachel Whiteread - to be temporarily displayed on the plinth. Ever since, the 'empty plinth' has been home to a number of temporary works of art commissioned from leading national and international artists. The Fourth Plinth project is now managed by the Mayor of London's office, with advice from a special commissioning panel. In 2005, Mark Quinn's sculpture, Alison Lapper Pregnant, attracted a high level of interest from the public and media alike. A portrait of disabled artist Alison Lapper when she was 8 months pregnant, the 3.5m high sculpture was carved out of a single block of white marble. Thomas Schütte's sculpture Model for a Hotel 2007 was situated on the Plinth from November 2007 until July 2009. Antony Gormley's One & Other replaced Model for a Hotel in July, beginning the next chapter in the plinth's history.

Antony Gormley invited members of the public to help create an astonishing living monument. He asked the people of the UK to occupy the empty Fourth Plinth to become an image of themselves and a representation of the whole of humanity. Every hour 24 hours a day for 100 days without break a different person is making the Plinth their own. Thousands of applications were received to take part in this unforgettable artistic experiment and Heather Kent was somewhat surprised but evidently delighted to be chosen.

To see Heather "in action" click here.