Modern Monuments at the
National Gallery

19 June 2008

The National Gallery collaborated with NCB through Life Routes to run Modern Monuments, a project exploring the processes and decision-making behind the construction and display of public art and sculpture.

In preparation for the practical workshop at the National Gallery the young people from the NE, NW, Yorks and Humber and London worked in regional groups to investigate public sculptures and monuments in their local areas. They considered issues such as materials used, scale employed and the suitability of setting.

These ideas were developed during the workshop at the National Gallery where the group looked at sculptures and contemporary art installations. They also visited Trafalgar Square where they focused particularly on the Fourth Plinth, which is a major setting for new commissions of public art in central London. Building on their research and discussions each regional group agreed a theme for their own public monument and worked collaboratively to produce a modern monument.

Chantel, one of the young people who participated in the workshop said:

“I hadn't really thought about sculpture and how people decide what to make and where they put it. But working with the people at the National Gallery made me look at things in a different way. The monument we made is brilliant! I want to show and tell everyone about the monument as there is a lot to them, like the way they are built and why. It was good to meet up with the people from other Life Routes projects too”.

Robert Glover the Regional Coordinator for Life Routes in Calderdale said:

“I was really proud of what the young people achieved at the workshop in London. Sculpture and exploring the processes behind creating a public monument are topics that the group has not worked on before, but the monument that the group has made is fantastic.