Figure 3.15: Empty plinth at Church Square

and equality. This approach may not be as offensive to the Afrikaans people’s culture as the total removal of the statues, which may be interpreted as an erasure of their heritage and history. However, the critics of the person and character of Paul Kruger will continue to have the same grounds for disapproval and allegations against him.

Consideration D

Figure 3.15: Empty plinth at Church Square

Source: Author (2021)

As plinths and statues are becoming questionable, some are left empty such as the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. Despite the unusual image of unoccupied plinths, this study believes that empty plinths inspire communities, especially artists who continually imagine what or who could occupy the plinth.

Trafalgar Square is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London. It has four statue plinths and three of them are decorated with sculptures or statues of prominent and historical personnel. The fourth one on the north-western corner remained empty for more than 150 years. In 1998, the Fourth Plinth Commission was established with the responsibility of commissioning the changing plinth’s contemporary artworks. (London x London,2022). Various pieces of art have had their time on the plinth and the currently decorated by a giant swirl of whipped cream, a cherry, a fly and a drone by artist Heather Phillipson entitled The End. This is the 13th plinth commission since 1998.

In like manner the plinth at Church Square could be left open for temporary exhibitions of artworks, current life-changing and iconic moments (Figure 3.15). This