03/07/2009 07:25:00
The first person to form part of Antony Gormley's latest art project has been revealed.
Rachel Wardell, from Lincolnshire, will step onto Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth on Monday July 6 and remain there for an hour from 0900 BST. She will then be followed by hundreds of other successful applicants who won the honour of taking part in the project.
The One and Other project involves a different person standing on London's famously empty Fourth Plinth every hour over a period of 100 days. It aims to represent the diversity of the general public and focus on unity as well as difference. All proceeds from the project will go towards the NSPCC.
Mrs Wardell, who is a housewife, told the BBC: "I like the idea of the arts as inclusive rather than exclusive and feel like this is something that Antony Gormley, and this project in particular, embrace.
"I wanted to be able to represent normal, everyday stay-at-home mums who aren't normally a feature of major artworks - to show my kids now, and when they're older, that you can do, and be part of anything, no matter how ordinary you are or feel.
"I never expected to get a place so hadn't thought about what to do and I never expected to be first.
"I don't want to say anything about me, but what is important to me is children. That's why I want to raise awareness of the NSPCC".
Mrs Wardell will be followed at 1000 BST by Brighton nurse Jason Clark. Applications are to remain open until the project finishes on September 1.
