By Isabel de Vasconcellos, with a foreword by Grayson Perry

A marble statue of a heavily pregnant disabled woman, a model of Nelson’s HMS Victory inside a huge bottle, a giant blue cockerel, and a great big bronze thumbs up. These are just some of the eye- catching art works that have adorned the empty stone pedestal in London’s Trafalgar Square known as the Fourth Plinth. Since 1999, many leading international artists such as Antony Gormley, Hans Haacke, Rachel Whiteread, Mark Wallinger, Yinka Shonibare, Elmgreen and Dragset have been invited to propose works for the space. The results have divided opinion across the capital and beyond, prompting debate not only about the merits of each commission, but also about the value of art in the public realm.

Commissioned by the Mayor of London, this book tells the story of the ongoing Fourth Plinth programme from its inception to David Shrigley’s Really Good, unveiled in September 2016. Individual chapters present the background and genesis of each work, with behind-the-scenes views of the fabrication, contributions from some of the many individuals involved in the projects, including the artists, and in situ shots of all the installed works. And just as every commission reflects varied aspects of London’s past and present as a global capital, the book, too, celebrates the impact of contemporary art on the vibrant, creative and multi-cultured city that it is today – one that has created the smallest but the most-talked-about sculpture park in the world.

Art / Books is an independent London-based international publisher of high-quality books across the fields of art, photography, design and contemporary culture. For further information, visit www.artbookspublishing.co.uk.