ELMGREEN & DRAGSET - NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

Scandanavian duo Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset are the most recent artists to have won the commission to create a work for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. Their golden boy on his rocking horse was inspired by the grumpy old men on horses that make up the equestrian statues already in Trafalgar Square and by questions about the nature and value of war memorials. Here Michael and Ingar talk to REcreative member Francesca about their understanding of public art and its functions - and what they learned from Texan truck drivers... Filmed at the Institute of Contemporary Art, London.

MARK WALLINGER: THE FIRST

 Turner-prize winner Mark Wallinger was the first artist to be commissioned to create a work for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, way back in 1998. His now iconic work, Ecce Homo, was inspired by the then-impending millenium and a curiosity about the role of religion in discussions about the significance of 2000AD. His Christ-like figure would later be shown at the Venice Biennale but here Mark discusses what it was like to be the first artist commissioned to create work for the plinth and how he came up with the idea in the first place. 

YINKA SHONIBARE MBE - THE SHIP IN THE BOTTLE

 Yinka Shonibare MBE didn't quite come up with his idea to put Nelson's ship in a bottle while in the shower, but he thinks the simple ideas are often the best. Recreating Nelson's ship HMS Victory in a large bottle was directly inspired by the history of Trafalgar Square and its existing landmarks but was also influenced by Shonibare's history lessons at school. He talks here about why public art should seek to engage people and how he hoped his playful work, which was on the plinth from May 2010 to January 2012, would operate on a number of different levels. 

TAMSIN DILLON: PART OF THE COMMISSIONING PANEL

 Tamsin Dillon is the Head of Art on the Underground and one of the members of the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group that also includes artists Jeremy Deller and Grayson Perry, Frieze co-director Matthew Slotover, broadcaster Jon Snow and writer Ekow Eshun, who chairs the group. Here, Tamsin talks about her experiences as part of the group and offers some insight into the decision-making and commissioning process. She also reflects on some of her personal favourites from the plinth over the years. 

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