Wirral chess fanatic to be ‘work of art’ in Trafalgar Square

Jun 17 2009 by Liam Murphy, Birkenhead News

Wirral chess fanatic to be ‘work of art’ in Trafalgar Square

Matthew, who is trying to raise awareness of chess in Wirral, says he is “on a mission to put chess back on the agenda”.

He said: “Chess is the fairest sport of all, it has no barriers.

“Some of the best players I have coached have come from very disadvantaged backgrounds.” In the planning report, Gormley – famous for his sculpture Angel of the North and the iron men statues on Crosby beach, called Another Place – said: “It’s about people coming together to do something extraordinary and unpredictable. It could be tragic but it could also be funny.”

The fourth plinth was originally created to accommodate an equestrian statue but because of insufficient funds nothing was ever commissioned.

Now its aim is to raise awareness of art to the public. Works which have been displayed include Marc Quinn’s “Alison Lapper Pregnant” and Thomas Schutte’s “Model For A Hotel”.

When the Gormley project finishes a statue of Battle of Britain hero Sir Keith Park will be displayed for six months.

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