MORE THAN 200 YEARS AFTER THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR, ADMIRAL LORD NELSON WAS REUNITED WITH HIS FLAGSHIP RECENTLY. A 1:30 SCALE REPLICA OF HMS VICTORY, IN A HUGE ACRYLIC BOTTLE, JOINED NELSON'S COLUMN IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED ON THE EMPTY FOURTH PLINTH. THE ONLY DEVIATION FROM THE ORIGINAL IS THE 37 SAILS, WHICH ARE DECORATED WITH PATTERNS SYMBOLIC OF AFRICAN IDENTITY AND INDEPENDENCE. THEY ARE THE TRADEMARK OF THE ARTIST, YINKA SHONIBARE. BORN IN LONDON BUT RAISED IN NIGERIA FROM THE AGE OF THREE UNTIL HE RETURNED TO STUDY ART, HE HAS INCORPORATED THEM IN THE MODEL TO 'REFLECT THE STORY OF MULTICULTURALISM IN LONDON'. IN KEEPING WITH TRADITION, HE REMAINED TIGHT LIPPED ABOUT EXACTLY HOW THE SHIP WAS PLACED ON THE PLINTH, 11.4ft LONG AND 7.7ft TALL, INSIDE A 15ft BOTTLE. THE INSTALLATION IS THE LATEST IN THE ROLLING PROGRAM OF CONTEMPORARY ART COMMISSIONS FRO THE FORTH PLINTH IN LONDON AND WILL BE ON DISPLAY FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS. IT REPLACES SIR KEITH PARK'S STATUE OF A BATTLE OF BRITAIN HERO, AND ANTHONY GORMLEY'S WORK, ONE AND ANOTHER, WHICH SAW 2,400 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SPEND AN HOUR ON THE PLINTH. HORATIO NELSON WAS KILLED ON BOARD HMS VICTORY DURING THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR ON 21.OCTOBER.1805.
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