Nelson's ship in a glass bottle and a person standing for an hour were announced today by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, as the winning artists of the next two commissions for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square.

Antony Gormley and Yinka Shonibare, MBE will occupy the plinth over the year.

One and other

Antony Gormley’s proposal One and Other is that the Fourth Plinth is occupied for 100 consecutive days, 24 hours a day, by members of the public who have volunteered to stand on it for an hour at a time. Over this period it is estimated that 2,400 people would take part. Antony Gormley said:

"Through elevation onto the plinth and removal from common ground’ the body becomes a metaphor, a symbol and allows us to reflect on the diversity, vulnerability and particularity of the individual in contemporary society."

Nelson

Yinka Shonibare’s proposal Nelson's Ship in a Bottle is a scale replica of Nelson’s ship, HMS Victory, in a giant glass bottle with sails made of patterned textiles commonly associated with Africa and bought from Brixton market in London. Shonibare says his piece will reflect the story of multiculturalism in London today:

"For me it’s a celebration of London’s immense ethnic wealth, giving expression to and honouring the many cultures and ethnicities that are still breathing precious wind into the sails of the UK."

Boris Johnson said: 'It was obviously a tough decision – all of the shortlisted proposals had their own merits. But I am very excited about the prospect of real people standing on the plinth'

The selection was made by the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group, which is chaired by Ekow Eshun, Artistic Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art, London.