Year 9:

Banksy Rat Fourth Plinth Project

The Fourth Plinth

The Fourth Plinth Secondary Schools Competition CLICK HERE

What is on the Fourth Plinth?

From 1841 until 1999 there was nothing on the Fourth Plinth in the north-west of Trafalgar Square, and it was sometimes referred to as the 'empty plinth'. It is now the location for contemporary art works, commissioned specially from leading artists, which are housed on the plinth for a year or two each. The choice of works is led by the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group.

Mark Quinn’s marble sculpture of the Alison Lapper, who is disabled and was pregnant when being sculpted was on the Fourth Plinth in 2008.

The Fourth Plinth ProposalsAnthony Gormley

Anthony Gormley proposed that a safety net be constructed beneath the plinth and for general members of the public to be able to stand on top of the plinth for 10-minutes. It would be manned for the duration of the time that the sculpture was commissioned for.

What do you think Gormley was trying to say about London and its people?

The Fourth Plinth Proposals

Yinka Shonibare Jeremey Deller Mark Quinn

Look at the proposals below and try to answer the following questions:

Question 1: Explain the sculpture using only 5 keywords.

Question 2: What do you think the artist is saying about London?

Rat Sculpture BriefYou have been commissioned to create a rat sculpture for the empty Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square.

SpecificationsUsing BANKSY’s stencils of anti-social rats as a starting point, create a rat sculpture that makes a statement about an issue affecting Londoners.

Artist Profile:

Katarina Fritsch

‘Rat King’ By Katharina Fritsch

Artist Profile:

Banksy

Banksy uses stencils to make statements about everything from the WAR to politics, big business, government oppression, and the mess we're making of

the environment

Anti Social Rat

• Graffiti

• Crime

• Hoody

• Loud music

Polluting Rat

• In car

• Surrounded by litter and filth

Anti-War Rat

• Protesting with placard

• Shouting with loud hailer

Environmentally Aware Rat• Cycling• Planting flowers

Terrorist Rat• With explosives/bomb

Stereotypical Rat• Hoodie• Burberry clad• Emo• Grunge

EXERCISE: What type of ‘Rat’ will your rat be?Draw out some ideas involving rats that incorporate the following issues:

Printable Resources

Fourth Plinth BriefSummaryYou have been commissioned to create a rat sculpture for the empty Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square.

SpecificationsUsing BANKSY’s stencils of anti-social rats as a starting point, create a rat sculpture that makes a statement about an issue affecting Londoners.

CompetitionThere will be a vote for the best rat sculpture(s) in each class. These will be exhibited at school and submitted* to the ‘Fourth Plinth Secondary Schools Competition’. Visit the site for further details:

www.london.gov.uk/fourthplinth/schoolsaward

Examples of IssuesAnti-social behaviourPollutionAnti-WarPoverty

Fourth Plinth BriefSummaryYou have been commissioned to create a rat sculpture for the empty Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square.

SpecificationsUsing BANKSY’s stencils of anti-social rats as a starting point, create a rat sculpture that makes a statement about an issue affecting Londoners.

CompetitionThere will be a vote for the best rat sculpture(s) in each class. These will be exhibited at school and submitted* to the ‘Fourth Plinth Secondary Schools Competition’. Visit the site for further details:

www.london.gov.uk/fourthplinth/schoolsaward

Examples of IssuesAnti-social behaviourPollutionAnti-WarPoverty

BANKSY RATS EXERCISE

Task 1: Practice copying some of Banksy’s Rats. Start by sketching out in pencil and then use a black felt tip or ink.

Task 2: Cut out one of the rats and create a stencil, which should be printed into your sketchbook

BANKSYHOMEWORK

Create a BANKSY presentation page in your sketchbook. Label the page with a title and draw some of his stencils of rats around London.

BANKSYHOMEWORK

Create a BANKSY presentation page in your sketchbook. Label the page with a title and draw some of his stencils of rats around London.

BANKSYHOMEWORK

Create a BANKSY presentation page in your sketchbook. Label the page with a title and draw some of his stencils of rats around London.

BANKSYHOMEWORK

Create a BANKSY presentation page in your sketchbook. Label the page with a title and draw some of his stencils of rats around London.

BANKSYHOMEWORK

Create a BANKSY presentation page in your sketchbook. Label the page with a title and draw some of his stencils of rats around London.

BANKSYHOMEWORK

Create a BANKSY presentation page in your sketchbook. Label the page with a title and draw some of his stencils of rats around London.

SKETCHING EXERCISEBased on the template of a rat, create two drawings to form the basis of your sculpture