Lucas Delgado
Trafalgar Square in London is a popular tourist destination, with its proximity to the National Gallery, Downing Street, Big Ben, and Charing Cross Road. The square itself features Nelson's Column, fountains, and four plinths, one of which, the Fourth Plinth, has been used for displaying contemporary art on a rotational basis since 1999. One such art piece that was unveiled on the Fourth Plinth in July 2013 was a giant blue cockerel sculpture called Hahn/Cock, created by German artist Katharina Fritsch. The blue chicken stood at 4.7 metres tall and attracted a range of reactions from critics and the public, with some praising its detail and humour, while others found it out of place. The sculpture has been interpreted in various ways, including as a feminist commentary, a symbol of French sporting pride, and a satirical take on London and its people.
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What You'll Learn
- The blue chicken is a sculpture called Hahn/Cock by German artist Katharina Fritsch
- It was displayed on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square from 2013 to 2015
- The sculpture is a cockerel, which can symbolise leadership and power
- Fritsch intended the sculpture to be a humorous counterbalance to the square's formal equestrian statues
- The blue chicken received a mixed response from the public and critics
The blue chicken is a sculpture called Hahn/Cock by German artist Katharina Fritsch
The blue chicken in Trafalgar Square is a sculpture called Hahn/Cock by German artist Katharina Fritsch. Fritsch is a Professor of Sculpture and created Hahn/Cock using fibreglass. The sculpture stands at 4.7 metres tall and was unveiled on 25 July 2013. It occupied the vacant fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, which was originally intended for a statue of King George IV or an equestrian statue.
Hahn/Cock is a giant blue cockerel or rooster, and its bright blue colour is certainly eye-catching. The sculpture received a mixed response, with some praising its "lifelike and other-worldly" feel and its ability to cheer people up, while others found it gauche and out of place.
There are many interpretations of the sculpture's meaning. Some see it as a witty feminist commentary on the portrayal of male significance through sculpture, especially given the surrounding area's male-dominated culture. Fritsch herself noted the sexual double entendre in the work's name, playing on the phallic character of Trafalgar Square with Nelson's Column. The sculpture has also been interpreted as a symbol of French sporting pride, with the blue cockerel standing in the heart of London, a reference to Britain's recent triumph in the Tour de France.
Hahn/Cock was displayed in Trafalgar Square until 17 February 2015. It was then acquired by Glenstone, a private museum, and exhibited at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. In March 2021, Glenstone donated the sculpture to the National Gallery, where it remains today.
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It was displayed on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square from 2013 to 2015
The blue chicken, or Hahn/Cock, was displayed on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square from 2013 to 2015. The sculpture was created by German artist and Professor of Sculpture Katharina Fritsch. It is a 4.7-metre-tall (some sources state 4.72 metres) fibreglass cockerel with intricate details and gravity-defying comb and tail feathers. Fritsch has noted that the work can be interpreted in many ways and has called it "a feminist sculpture, since it is I who am doing something".
The sculpture was selected by the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group, a panel of specialist advisors that guides and monitors the commissions for the plinth. The Fourth Plinth was originally intended for a statue of William IV but remained bare for over 150 years. Since 1999, it has been used as a display stand for temporary pieces of art.
Hahn/Cock received generally positive reviews from art critics. Adrian Searle of The Guardian commented that "the scale and modelling and degree of detail feel right", with a "lifelike and other-worldly" feel to the sculpture. BBC News' arts correspondent Rebecca Jones wrote that the work has "a kind of joyful aspect to it which will put a smile on many people's faces".
However, the sculpture also faced opposition and criticism. The Thorney Island Society, a local conservation group, objected to the sculpture on the grounds that it was "unrelated to the context of Trafalgar Square and adds nothing to it but a feeble distraction". A reviewer on TripAdvisor called it "gauche and gaudy and out of place".
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The sculpture is a cockerel, which can symbolise leadership and power
The sculpture Hahn/Cock, designed by German artist and Professor of Sculpture Katharina Fritsch, is a giant blue cockerel that was unveiled on the Fourth Plinth in London's Trafalgar Square on 25 July 2013. Standing at 4.7 metres tall, the cockerel is a symbol of leadership, strength and power.
The cockerel, or rooster, is often seen as a leader or chief, and this idea is reflected in Fritsch's sculpture. In the context of Trafalgar Square, with its numerous statues of men, the cockerel can be interpreted as a witty feminist commentary on the portrayal of male significance through sculpture. It is a humorous counterbalance to the formal equestrian statues on the square's other three plinths.
The bright blue colour of the cockerel also adds to its impact and symbolism. While some critics have dismissed the sculpture as "gauche and gaudy", others have praised its ability to cheer people up and put a smile on their faces. Fritsch herself has noted the multiple interpretations of the sculpture, including its possible reference to French sporting pride, brought to the heart of London.
The sculpture remained on display until 17 February 2015 and has since been exhibited at various museums and galleries. Despite varying opinions, the giant blue cockerel has undoubtedly become a memorable part of Trafalgar Square's landscape, inviting dialogue and reflection on the surrounding area and the role of public art.
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Fritsch intended the sculpture to be a humorous counterbalance to the square's formal equestrian statues
The blue chicken in Trafalgar Square, London, is a sculpture called Hahn/Cock. It was created by German artist and Professor of Sculpture Katharina Fritsch and unveiled in July 2013. Standing at 4.7 metres tall, it occupied the vacant fourth plinth in the square, which was originally intended for an equestrian statue.
The blue chicken, or cockerel, can be interpreted in multiple ways. Fritsch herself called it "a feminist sculpture, since it is I who am doing something". Some have interpreted it as a witty feminist commentary on the portrayal of male significance through sculpture and a reference to the tradition of placing statues of important men on pedestals. Others have seen it as a symbol of French sporting pride, linking it to Britain's triumph in the Tour de France.
The sculpture received mixed reviews, with some praising its size, detail, and joyful aspect, while others found it out of place and unrelated to the context of Trafalgar Square.
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The blue chicken received a mixed response from the public and critics
The blue cockerel sculpture in Trafalgar Square, London, created by German artist Katharina Fritsch, has received a mixed response from the public and critics. The sculpture, titled Hahn/Cock, was unveiled in July 2013 and stood at 4.7 metres tall on the Fourth Plinth, which has been used to display temporary art installations since 1999.
Fritsch described the work as "a feminist sculpture, since it is I who am doing something", and it has been interpreted as a witty commentary on the portrayal of male significance through sculpture, particularly given the statue-laden, male-dominated context of Trafalgar Square. Fritsch also noted the humour in her work, which contrasts with the formal equestrian statues on the square's other plinths.
Art critics gave the sculpture generally positive reviews, with Adrian Searle of The Guardian commenting on the "lifelike and other-worldly" feel of the piece. BBC News' arts correspondent, Rebecca Jones, wrote that the work had "a kind of joyful aspect to it which will put a smile on many people's faces".
However, the sculpture also faced opposition and criticism. The Thorney Island Society, a local conservation group, objected to the sculpture, arguing that it was "unrelated to the context of Trafalgar Square and adds nothing to it but a feeble distraction". Some members of the public also expressed negative opinions, with one London taxi driver calling it a 'bloody eyesore'. Online reviews on Tripadvisor described the sculpture as "hideous", "gauche and gaudy", and "out of place".
The blue cockerel has sparked dialogue and interpretation, with some pointing out the irony of a French symbol standing next to Lord Nelson, the vanquisher of the French. The sculpture's colour and size also added unexpected accents to the mostly grey architecture of Trafalgar Square.
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Frequently asked questions
The blue chicken, or Hahn/Cock, is a sculpture by German artist Katharina Fritsch. It was displayed on the vacant fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square from 2013 to 2015. The sculpture is a giant blue cockerel, standing at 4.7 metres tall.
Fritsch has stated that there are multiple interpretations of the sculpture. Some believe it is a witty feminist commentary on the portrayal of male significance through sculpture, while others believe it symbolises regeneration, awakening, strength, and French sporting pride.
The Hahn/Cock sculpture is made of fibreglass.
After being displayed in Trafalgar Square, the sculpture was acquired by Glenstone, a private museum. It was exhibited at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, following its 2016 reopening. In 2021, Glenstone permanently donated the piece to the National Gallery.
