Listening to the panel discuss the artistic, architectural, and logistical complexities of placing a permanent work, provided a fascinating look behind the scenes of this commission.
When you look at Parliament Square, you are looking at a carefully planned "theatre of power". As the architect Tony Dyson explained, the layout follows a distinct architectural hierarchy: The statesmen and military leaders maintain a formal distance, however, the three most recent additions, stand closer to the ground, accessible and surrounded by steps that encourage them being surrounded by visitors, shifting the spatial narrative from authority to the power of grassroots activism.
I had heard that the choice to commission Turner Prize winner Gillian Wearing had been controversial, but I had not realised how much until Jordan Kaplan from the Contemporary Art Society shared insights into the selection process ( Wearing is a conceptual artist, not a sculptor) and the idea development (the artist would have favoured an everyday woman but the nature of the square required the person to be a real historical figure).
She also spoke about the process behind the artist's conceptual approach, pushing the boundaries of modern craft by combining digital technology with traditional craft skills and how it is seeing in the texture rich monument that celebrates a collective movement rather than a single individual.
Jo Baxendale from the Mayor of London’s Office spoke about the crucial political backing required to navigate the complex planning permissions, and it had been serendipitous that Caroline Criado's campaign coincided with the arrival of Sadiq Khan to City Hall.
It was a brilliant event and I was able to catch up with the NAWIC London & South East team but also many other friends and peers (inc*) in the most gorgeous setting of the House of Commons Terrace Pavilion.
(*) Marianna Bia Rosemary Silver Annabelle Silver-Setchfield CMLI Ayo Abbas Helene Seguin Sandi Rhys Jones OBE, FCIOB Ainhoa Paredes LUCIA ALEJANDRA MENDOZA LUGO Katie Le Chevalier, WELL AP, WELL Faculty Rumana M Begum Alex Harper Maria Blazquez and many many more professionals I admire.
I need to give a special shout out to Tegan Johnson and Annie Clift (and her team Limeslade ) from our committee for their work in making this event accessible to our members and friends and for having us support the work that the Next 100 Years are doing.
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