Tension builds as the eyes of the world turn to the Plinth of Peace in the build up to The Royal Wedding.
Despite numerous legal attempts, no one – from No 10 downing street – has been able to come up with any legal power to move the 2 Peace Plinths from the pavement between the Houses of Parliament and the abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton will marry on 29 April.
Maria Gallastegui who owns the 2 plinths has written to Buckingham Palace offering to cover up her placards for the day.
She received a noncommital reply – delivered to her police box. The Prince of Wales, the letter said, "appreciated" her offer and "careful note has been taken on the points you make".
As the countdown to the wedding begins, Tory politicians are venting their fury at Scotland Yard, piling the pressure on senior officers to do something. The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, is understood to have made it clear in private to the Metropolitan police that he does not want anything – not a tin of paint, a placard or a tent flap – to spoil the wedding day.
Hopes had been resting on attempts by the Greater London Authority and Westminster council to remove the 2 Peace Plinths by taking action through the courts. But Maria has permission to stay on the Parliament Square pavement under a clause in the Serious and Organised Crime Act 2005.
17th March 2011
DON Add's his 'Crying Queen' to the Plinth of Peace
On the 15th March as Big Ben struck 3'oclock One of London's leading young contemporary artists
Johan Andersson mounted his latest portrait from his 'Stolen Faces' collection on Art Below's Plinth of Peace opposite the Houses of Parliament. The painting is a 2 meter by 2 meter oil portrait of Gadaffi. He wanted to display this piece specifically in this space in the potential build up to Gadaffi's downfall.
'It is likely the painting may get vandalised, stolen, ruined by the rain and pollution but I see this as part of the art - it symbolises Gadaffi's own demise' Johan Andersson
Artist hangs giant portrait of Gadaffi opposite houses of parliament
On the 15th March as Big Ben struck 3'oclock One of London's leading young contemporary artists
Johan Andersson mounted his latest portrait from his 'Stolen Faces' collection on Art Below's Plinth of Peace opposite the Houses of Parliament. The painting is a 2 meter by 2 meter oil portrait of Gadaffi. He wanted to display this piece specifically in this space in the potential build up to Gadaffi's downfall.
'It is likely the painting may get vandalised, stolen, ruined by the rain and pollution but I see this as part of the art - it symbolises Gadaffi's own demise' Johan Andersson
Johan Andersson has exhibited at the National Portrait gallery as the youngest ever to be nominated for the BP portrait award. He also recently exhibited in the V&A museum and last summer filmed a T.V series with Sky called 'Art of Survival' which is due to broadcast this summer.
Some Background about the Plinth of Peace.
In November 2010 amidst criticism from Westminster Council Art Below joined forces with Peace Strike to call upon artists to create works that inspire peace and an end to all wars to be displayed on the (2.5m x 2.55m x 1.25m) plinths situated directly opposite the Houses of Parliament.
'It is important that we put this plinth up for auction before Westminster Council destroy it' says Maria.
Maria Gallastegui, founder of Peace Strike has decided that all proceeds from the auction will go to a chidren's center in a war torn part of Iraq. 'It has good potential to heal and show that despite all the tragedy of war and the failings of mankind there are people who care and want to repair the damage in whatever way they can'
Maria has been living on Parliament square as a peace activist since 2006. In 2009 she created the first plinth with welcomed assistance at the Kew Eco village. The second one followed shortly in the Summer of 2010.
On 12th January 2011, organised by Art Below a 3m x 2m canvas of a blown up photograph by
Emma Stoner was mounted on the plinth. The photograph captured one of many dramatic moments from 'democracy village' when protesters took over parliament square in Summer 2010 for almost 3 months turning the green into a tented camp.
On 19th February Artist
Schoony mounted his latest piece of work on the 'Plinth of Peace' Schoony's artwork displays three boy soldiers, with words from a Wilfred Owen poem, Dulce Et Decorum Est. Schoony's background is in special effects for film and his art clearly reflects his expertise in this field. This work will be displayed until the end of March.
VIEW A SHORT CLIP HERE
The parliament square protest camp has attracted a rich heritage of artists over the last 10 years with Banksy contributing to Brian Haw's campaign with stencil of two soldiers painting a peace sign and Leon Kuhn's anti-war political caricature 3 Guilty Men.
In 2007 Artist Mark Wallinger was awarded the Turner Prize for his reconstruction of The Parliament Square Peace Camp.
Now as we enter the grand finale with the dramatic back drop of the Royal Wedding, it is time for a new artist to close the curtain on the plinth of peace and give value to a good cause making this ending a positive one.
