New art work unveiled for fourth plinth in London's Trafalgar Square

The latest artwork to adorn the empty fourth plinth in London's Trafalgar Square was unveiled Thursday by London mayor Boris Johnson.

The piece 'Gift Horse' by German artist Hans Haacke, is a skeletal, riderless horse. The work references the fourth plinth itself, which was empty for more than 150 years although it had been built for a planned statue of a British king on a horse.

Haacke's horse also has an electronic ribbon tied to its front leg, representing the live ticker of the London Stock Exchange, which creates a link between money, power and history.

Johnson said: "'Gift Horse' is a startlingly original comment on the relationship between art and commerce and I hope it will stimulate as much debate as the other works that have appeared on the fourth plinth."

Ekow Eshun, chair of the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group, said, "Haacke's 'Gift Horse' is an important, arresting sculpture. It asks questions about the role of money and power in modern London. And it marks the Fourth Plinth program's continued commitment to bring the work of leading British and international artists to the heart of the city and into dialogue with the public."

The fourth plinth has been used since 1998 to display a variety of sometimes controversial works by artists, and 'Gift Horse' is the 10th piece of art to be chosen. Endit