Choosing an Inspirational Statue

An exhibition of models shortlisted for the next Fourth Plinth statue in Trafalgar Square recently opened in the National Gallery. The public are invited to comment on the next commission to occupy the plinth. They can choose between the 5 models on show. 

The current occupant of Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth is David Shrigley's thumbs up statue 'Really Good'. I am uncomfortable with this statue. Hand signals do not always have the same meaning in other cultures and can even be offensive in other parts of the world. It should always be remembered that Trafalgar Square is a popular destination for people from all nationalities and ethnicities.

David Shrigley's statue on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square

The End by Heather Phillipson

Newspaper reports seen to date seem to focus on the enormous ice cream with a cherry on top, a drone and a huge fly. It's bright and eye-catching. It would appear that this is the National Gallery's favourite. It certainly has the best-lit position.

Visually the piece seems to fit with the environment. It's a contemporary artwork that evokes the upbeat, fun aspect of Trafalgar Square. It will look particularly good in summer when large crowds gather for events. 

The artist's suggestion of impending collapse doesn't work so well. Concerns about national security and invasion of privacy are very topical. Who does the artist intend us to understand as parasites? She doesn't stipulate. I fear that this could be problematic in the current Brexit climate.

Higher by Damian Ortega

Two other models do not appeal for other reasons. Huma Bhabha's model doesn't even have a name. Michael Rakowitz's recreation of an ancient Middle Eastern statue doesn't seem appropriate for the contemporary Fourth Plinth. 

Damian Ortega's Higher model did catch my eye (see photo at the top and right). The Mexican artist's proposal suggests impending collapse. The ladders are reaching for the sky. This model suggests social mobility to me - something our Prime Minister has expressed her concern about. 

The statue is built upon a VW van. That makes me think of the emissions scandal. I like the statue and would like to see it commissioned. I think it would look better on the South Bank. Or perhaps a spot should be found for it near the current or future American Embassy in support of the Mexican people and South America?

My actual choice for the Fourth Plinth would be the Raqs Media Collective's The Emperor's Old Clothes, although renamed and for reasons beyond their explanation. The artists intend it to invoke a statue that is a relic of the British Empire in Delhi's Coronation Park, India. Many Indians live and prosper in London today. Deep reflection on Britain's colonial past is perhaps overdue. I just wonder if the statue would be more appropriately placed in Westminster if that were its full meaning?

We are living in a time of great social and constitutional upheaval in Britain and the World. As opposed to merely thinking about the past, we should use the new Fourth Plinth statue to reflect on what sort of society we want in future. Maybe the reflection should be two-way? If India wants Britain to reflect on its colonial past, maybe Britain can ask India to reflect on how its treats woman in the present day? Trafalgar Square staged a major Women's March just last weekend.

When I saw the statue I thought of Charles Handy's book 'The Empty Raincoat'. I saw not what was missing, but asked myself what do we place inside the statue today? What sort of society and leadership do we want in future? Multiple themes are possible:

1. Reflection on colonialism
2. Women in society
3. Multicultural Londoners - feature a different Londoner every day?
4. Diversity in society 
5. Social mobility and education
6. Reflections on technology, security, intrusion, privacy and public spaces
7. The future of employment, pensions, healthcare, social care and leisure time
8. Reflections on sustainability and climate change against corporate concerns
9. Responsibilities towards other nations
10. What leadership qualities do we want? What should a leader's legacy be for us to want to build a future statue to them?

When I first saw this statue, it looked very uninspiring in the dark. I would propose lighting it up from the inside with different colours - rainbow colours too - to inspire people to think about the future they would like to see.

Karen Andrews is a freelance French to English translator, transcreator, content writer and editor. She has a strong background in global marketing.

Email Karen for further information via karenanglicityen@gmail.com in French, German or English.

London Calling 'Merry Christmas'

Joyeux Noël   Merry Christmas   

Frohe Weihnachten   Buon Natale

Feliz Navidad   Vrolijk Kerstfeest

Καλά Χριστούγεννα   God Jul

Merry Christmas from London. Above is the famous Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. It looks fabulous reflected in the square's fountains. The tree is an annual gift as noted on the sign at its base:

This tree is given by the City of Oslo as a token 

of Norwegian gratitude to the

 people of London for their assistance during the 

years 1940 -1945.

A tree has been given annually since 1947.

The square has also been a site for carol singing and contains a nativity scene. The figures were carved by the Japanese-born artist Tomoaki Suzuki. He chose the figures to represent Britain's rich multicultural community today. The donkey and sheep were modelled on real animals at Hackney City Farm. The crib was first used in 2006.

The Norwegian tree remains London's most famous Christmas tree. Its arrival signals that Christmas is coming.

Multicultural England and St George

Ordinarily St George’s Day passes in a puff of smoke. Does another nation that let its patron saint’s day pass with as little celebration as England? April 23^rd 2016 was a little more special than usual, but that was down to the Shakespeare 400^th anniversary celebrations, not St George.

My native city of Bristol apparently dropped St George’s Day celebrations altogether because the area is “too multicultural”. London is multicultural too - if anything even more so. Celebrations went ahead in Trafalgar Square.

Has London found the recipe to respect the ethnic and cultural backgrounds of all its citizens? 

 East Londoner Nathalie Coleman, the 2013 TV MasterChef,
cooks her variation on Eton Mess with Rhubarb and Star Anise

I have already blogged about a number of the events in Trafalgar Square in the past year. I wasn’t able to attend every cultural event, but am aware that I missed a number. London celebrated Eid, Diwali, Holi Festival of Colours, Vaisakhi and Chinese New Year.

In December, a Jewish Menorah stood in Trafalgar Square for Hanukah alongside the traditional Christmas tree. The enthusiastic Irish celebrations of St Patrick’s Day feature in a previous blog. I have also written about Brazil and French Bastille Days.

At Easter, I watched a Passion Play in Trafalgar Square. This was the result of months of hard work by enthusiastic volunteers. The story of Jesus is a powerful one, even if you do not share the Christian faith.

Just before Easter my car had to have its MOT. I was mightily relieved when it did not cost me the anticipated “fortune”. As the keys were returned to me, I wished my mechanic a Happy Easter. Noting his Sikh turban, I quickly added the word “break”. I didn’t wish to offend. No offence was seemingly taken as he walked away smiling. It was a Bank Holiday for both of us after all.

Later I looked up Sikh traditions. I noted that Sikhs worship one God, have rejected the caste system, believe in living honestly and working hard. They also believe in being generous to those less fortunate than themselves. Much in common therefore.

My children have learnt all about different cultures and their celebrations at school. At Primary School, they learnt about the Swedish festival of light, Eid, Diwali lamps, the Nativity, Chinese New Year, Hanukah, Buddhism, Easter rabbits, St Nicholas, etc. They enjoyed hearing all the stories related to other faiths and celebrating the festivals important to other children in their classes.

Adopting another culture’s customs is nothing new. At Christmas, I wrote how Christmas trees came to us via Germany - although other countries claim the tradition too. I wrote about Austrian Kipferl and how other nations claim the recipe. I looked at the origins of Easter and discovered many Pagan and Jewish Passover connections.

You don’t need to go too far back in British history to see how religious beliefs tore our nation apart. The wounds of religious wars took generations to heal. 

St George's Day 2016 in Trafalgar Square

Today, England is a tolerant nation. The past shows us that we should absorb rather than drop our own beliefs and celebrations.  Ignorance and fear hamper multicultural integration. Sharing our different cultural traditions and celebrations is an important part of understanding. When we understand better, the beliefs don’t seem so different underneath.

St Patrick's Day Parade

Luck o' the Irish. London's St Patrick Day Parade took place in sunshine and blue skies. Thousands turned out to line the streets four days ahead of the official day of 17th March. There was a sea of green everywhere. You could join in whether you were Irish or not. The more the merrier as far as the Irish are concerned.

Two leprechauns at the London's St Patrick Day Parade

St Patrick
St Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland. The Feast of St Patrick has both religious and cultural significance. Its official date coincides with the day the saint died. Patrick was a Christian missionary and bishop in the 5th Century. According to legend he used the 3-leaved shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish Pagans.

St Patrick at the start of the London parade

Large crowds
If Dublin was a little quiet on Sunday, it must have been because a fair number of the Irish started the celebrations in London. A bit like the Tour de France starts outside France maybe? As one of the parade commentators said, St Patrick's Day party starts early and continues into Easter.

Great Spirit of Inclusion

There was a wide age range. A baby fast asleep in his pram, but dressed for the occasion in the colours of the Irish flag. A grandmother walked behind her young granddaughter as she showed off her Irish dance skills.

A special needs group appeared walking and in wheelchairs among the throng. There were also people in wheelchairs within other groups. 

Participants made a special effort to come across and talk to the young girl in a wheelchair nearby me with her parents and sister.

Various protest groups also walked within the parade to promote their cause. There was even a group handing out leaflets for the British to vote to stay in the EU with the Irish.

Dublin Women seeking equal pay

The main part of the day was for merriment. There were music, dancing and green costumes galore. 

There were some great marching bands from Ireland, the UK and the USA. The very smart Texan marching band were brilliant. 

Coppell High School Marching Band from Texas in London

Their accompanying American majorettes put on a great display twirling their large green flags.

Texan Majorettes in the St Patrick's Day Parade

And of course there were flutes, pipes, drums and fiddles and bagpipes too.

Irish bagpipe marching band in St Patrick's Day Parade

It was great to see so many young Irish dancers included in the parade both on floats and in the parade.












Ooh! I musn't forget to mention the rugby float announcing the St Patrick's Day match...

Irish Rugby Float in London's St Patrick's Day Parade

The fire brigade and the police were represented in the parade too. The South London Irish Club even brought along an old fire engine from West Sussex.

The fire engine was one of a wide range of vehicles in the parade - from articulated trucks to roller skates. There were scooters, bikes, a mobile home, an old panda car and a JCB.

Roller skating behind an old police car 

JCB in London's St Patrick Day Parade

South American culture was represented too with dancers in very colourful costumes. The Irish welcome all.

Bolivian Dancers in St Patrick's Day Parade

South American dancers on London street

At the end of the parade the festivities continued in Trafalgar Square.

The queue at the bar in Trafalgar Square after the parade

On London's German Christmas Trees and Markets

Christmas Trees outside London offices

Christmas trees were first introduced to Britain from Germany. Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert recreated the Christmas trees of his childhood at Windsor Castle. A drawing of the decorated tree featured in Illustrated London News in 1848.

There was no looking back. The Victorians copied the Royal Family and decorated trees in their homes too. The German custom became a British one.

Christmas Tree outside Houses of Parliament

While there is no doubt that the custom came to Britain from Germany, both Latvia and Estonia claim to be the origin of the first Christmas tree. Some sources suggest that the first Christmas tree appeared in both Riga and Tallinn in 1510. Accounts passed down through oral history means that we may never be able to determine the exact truth.

Northern Europe is undoubtedly the origin of the Christmas tree. It was Germany that spread its decoration customs throughout the world. 

Decorated Christmas Tree at Somerset House

Although Christmas trees are associated with the Christian festival today, their origins are in pagan celebrations of the Winter Solstice.

Christmas in Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is at London’s heart. It is central to British democracy and the right to freedom of expression. In 2015, it witnessed British solidarity with the French over the tragic events in Paris. 

Norway's 2015 Christmas Tree Gift in Trafalgar Square

Every year the people of Norway give a Christmas tree to the people of Britain in recognition of British support for their nation during the Second World War. It is therefore fitting that this annual gift is displayed in Trafalgar Square. This year’s tree appears in the photo above.

There are also numerous brightly-lit Christmas trees throughout the capital.

It is not just the German Christmas tree tradition that Britain has taken to heart. The number of German Christmas markets seem to increase throughout the capital and the rest of the United Kingdom with every passing year. 

German Christmas Market Banner on London's South Bank

Winter Wonderland is a fabulous annual Christmas market in Hyde Park. 

 

Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland Christmas Market

This year, I visited the German Christmas market outside the Tate Modern on the South Bank. One stall there even had a Christmas tree on top.

Tree on top of German Christmas Market

Outside or inside, real or artificial, big or small… Christmas today is unthinkable without the custom brought to Britain by a German Prince. 

Frohe Weihnachten! Merry Christmas!

Where is the best decorated Christmas tree that you have seen this year?

London's Brazil Day 2015

Brazil Day 2015 stage and beach volleyball court

Brazil took over London's Trafalgar Square on Saturday 8th August. The colours were yellow and green everywhere.  

Brazil Day 2015 was staged in eager anticipation of the Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics. There was music, dancing, singing, Brazilian food and even beach volleyball. 

Brazilian Singers and Dancers on the Brazil Day 2015 stage

The crowds turned out in strength on a warm summer afternoon and evening. Not quite Brazilian weather perhaps. The temperature and the crowd were nonetheless warm.

It was great to see beach volleyball back in Central London. It brought back memories of one of the most entertaining events at the London 2012 Olympics on Horse Guards Parade.

The Gift Horse on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square

Hans Haacke's Gift Horse on the Fourth Plinth looked as if he could do with fattening up. He could perhaps have done with some of my spicy Brazilian chicken and sweet potato fries.

Brazilian Spicy Barbecued Chicken and Sweet Potato Fries

On a more serious note, the skeletal statue is meant to convey the gap between rich and poor for the City. It should probably also draw attention to the gap between rich and poor in Brazil.

Sport and culture are great levellers. Whatever the current difficulties, I am sure the Brazilian people will stage the first South American Olympics and Paralympics with their characteristic welcome and enthusiasm in 2016.

Email karen@anglicity.com for information on Anglicity's content writing services.

London's Solidarity with Paris

London's Tower Bridge lit up in red, white and blue

On Sunday 11th January 2015, London showed its solidarity with Paris following a traumatic week there. The history of our two great nations has been closely tied for centuries - both in peace and in times of war. Today, our two capitals are peaceful trading partners within the European Union. A large French population lives and works in London. Many French residents congregated in front of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. Their numbers were not as high as those who marched in Paris on the same day. They still held up the same French banners for freedom of expression.

"I am Charlie" and "Ink must flow, not blood" banners

A number of other nationalities were also present in solidarity. On the pavement in front of the National Gallery, there were chalk flags from numerous other nations, alongside the French flag and Union Jack. The atmosphere was friendly and many age groups were represented. The Metropolitan Police even assisted in taking photographs.

A great cheer went up just after 4pm. Lights projected the French tricolour onto the front of the National Gallery. The crowd broke into the French national anthem, La Marseillaise. The square's fountains spurted alternately in red, white and blue lighting.

London's famous Tower Bridge was also lit up in solidarity with the French. The colours alternated between red, white and blue from 4pm to 5.30pm. Then the lights went out, leaving the iconic bridge in darkness.

I travelled from Trafalgar Square to Tower Hill to "Little France" in South Kensington. I saw the French flag projected onto the National Gallery. My day ended by seeing an English film about the National Gallery projected at the French Institute's Ciné Lumière. The culture of two nations intertwined.

Karen Andrews runs
Anglicity Ltd. She is
an entrepreneurial
French to English
translator, editor,
content writer and
marketing consultant.
She has a keen interest
in the French language
and French culture.



Contact: karen@anglicity.com for further information on Anglicity's services.