A WOMAN from Saffron Walden is set to become a living sculpture when she takes her place on the Fourth Plinth in London s Trafalgar Square. Mother of one Sophie Durlacher, 40, has never sought the limelight, but for an hour in August she will become one o

A WOMAN from Saffron Walden is set to become a living sculpture when she takes her place on the Fourth Plinth in London's Trafalgar Square.

Mother of one Sophie Durlacher, 40, has never sought the limelight, but for an hour in August she will become one of sculptor Antony Gormley's living works of art.

"It's a really inclusive art project and I never thought I would have the opportunity to be a part of something like this," said Ms Durlacher from South Road.

"It didn't occur to me that I might have to do something on the plinth - I'm not a performer in any way, shape or form! For me it's more about the experience and having a view of London that not many other people will see."

As one of Britain's most well-known living artists, Gormley is famous for creating the iconic Angel of the North sculpture in Gateshead.

His latest project sees members of the public becoming living monuments on Trafalgar Square's empty Fourth Plinth - a space normally reserved for statues of kings and generals.

For every hour of every day for 100 days a different person will make the plinth their own and from 7am to 8am on Wednesday August 19, the eyes of London will be on Sophie.

"It's very high so I expect I'll spend most of the time sitting down," she said. "As a working mum I'm very busy so I might spend the time as I would if I had an hour to myself.

"Also my mother died soon after my son was born so I might use it as an hour of reflection."

The Fourth Plinth is the name given to the empty plinth in the north-west corner of Trafalgar Square which was originally built in 1841 to display an equestrian statue. However, due to a lack of funds the plinth stood empty and has since been used to display a number of temporary works.

Artist Mr Gormley said the 100-day project, which is called One and Other, would show a "portrait" of the UK as it is now and would give people a look at the world from the point of view of art.

"What people do on the plinth is entirely up to them," he said.

To find out what people are doing on the plinth watch the live stream at www.oneandother.co.uk