Question of the week: The London Centre is hosting a conference on Eric Gill next week. Gill is well known for several works in public spaces, but is perhaps best known for his Prospero and Ariel on Broadcasting House. His work is currently being featured in the Royal Academy's Wild Thing exhibition and its public sculpture trail. Gill is one of hundreds of artists to have contributed to the richness of public statues around the city, so, aside from Gill's work, do you have a favourite London sculpture or sculptor?"So many images, so hard to choose a single favourite, so I am choosing two:
The first is King George III, our near neighbour riding his handsome horse as if up Pall Mall East toward St James and the Palace. Students in the Trafalgar Square class know far more than I about this choice and placement of that statue there -- I simply note with affection this particular monarch who was so sensitively portrayed in the film 'The Madness of King George' (a film which I cannot recommend too highly, for a great many reasons).
The second is the Cenotaph in Whitehall -- indeed in the middle of Whitehall, so prominently placed that those who know what it is cannot pass without reflection about the nature and effects of nationhood and war and might and weakness, unto death. The term means 'empty tomb,' and we strangers to this sight may rightly wonder at it. But what can an empty tomb hold but all of death and at the same time, hope. I encourage you to stroll down to the Cenotaph while you are here and ponder it. Now is an excellent time to go, during days following Remembrance Sunday (yesterday) and leading up to Remembrance Day on the 11th, for a great many reasons." - Dr Holt* Photos by C.K.H. (Gill/Prospero and Ariel),netNicholls (George III) and andwar (cenotaph) used under Creative Commons, with thanks.
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