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

Jun 17 2009 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

A CHESS fanatic from Wirral who aims to bring the game to a wider audience will be among those taking part in Antony Gormley’s latest work of art.

Matthew Battersby, 51, from Pensby, will be spending an hour on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square as part of Gormley’s commission One & Other.

The aim is to create a living monument in which 2,400 members of the public – chosen at random – will each get to spend an hour on the plinth.

Those taking part will be able to spend the time as they wish, whether to perform, demonstrate or “simply to reflect”.

But chess coach Matthew Battersby says he will be hoping to take on an onlooker in a chess match or – failing that, given that his time is 11pm to midnight on a Sunday – will play against a computer during his hour on the plinth.

Matthew, a landscape gardener who also teaches chess at Ladymount and Dawpool primary schools, said he hopes to raise the profile of the game which he believes can help children develop and even overcome a disadvantaged background.

The father of three sons, all now at university, said: “My wife Mary and the lads think I’m insane.

“I’ve no idea what people will make of me, and I still can’t quite believe I was chosen.”

The project, which is commissioned by the Mayor of London and produced in partnership with Sky Arts, will see a different person take their place on the Fourth Plinth every hour, 24 hours a day for 100 days, and will run from Monday July 6 until October 14.

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.

A 24-hour feed will be broadcast at www.oneandother.co.uk.