Patrick Comerford
Paternoster Square on the north side of Saint Paul’s Cathedral is the location of the London Stock Exchange, investment banks and fund managers. Surprisingly, though, the square itself is privately owned public space. The London Stock Exchange was the initial target of the ‘Occupy London’ protests in 2011, but the police thwarted the protesters’ attempts to occupy the square and sealed off the entrance.
A High Court injunction defined the square as private property, even though it had been repeatedly described as ‘public space’ in the plans for Paternoster Square. It all means the public has access but without a right of way in law, and the owner can limit access at any time.
The main monument in the square is the 23 metre (75 ft) Paternoster Square Column, William Whitfield’s Corinthian column of Portland stone topped by a gold leaf covered flaming copper urn, illuminated by fibre-optic lighting at night. However, the most-known work in the square must be Dame Elisabeth Frink’s Shepherd and Sheep, or Paternoster.
The bronze statue, commissioned in 1975, recalls not only Psalm 23 (‘The Lord is my Shepherd’) – but is also a play on the words Pater and Pastor and is a reminder of the traditional right of the Freemen of London to drive their sheep across London Bridge into the City of London.
But there are more animals than sheep in Paternoster Square at present. Following last year’s sculpture of an animals’ dining table, the artists Gillie and Marc are back in Paternoster Square with yet another menagerie of animals with their sculptures ‘Wild About Babies’. Their current exhibition in Paternoster Square was launched last month (January 2024) and continues until January 2025.
This exhibition appeals to the inherent inability we all have to resist the charm of baby animals and our deep connection with the innocence of nature. They hope these creatures not only uplift people but also spark an urge to protect.
The project is a creative and artistic response to what is described as the ‘sixth mass extinction’. In January 2020, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed 203 critically endangered mammalian species, including 31 which were tagged as possibly extinct. Wildlife is facing enormous human-made challenges, including climate change and poaching.
The sculptures by Gillie and Marc now in Paternoster Square bring an array of baby animals to the streets in partnership with the WWF (World Wildlife Fund). The installation features six endangered baby animals, watched over by Gia, the giant 30-year-old ‘mother’ gorilla, a majestic three-metre creation representing the universal mother. She sits with her arms spread wide, welcoming all the animals into the safety of her embrace.
These creatures are crafted in bronze: Astrid, a young five-year-old giant tortoise; Bailey, a four-month-old African elephant; Apollo, a three-week-old giraffe; Mila, a four-month-old Javan rhino; Luna, a two-month-old hippo; and Clio, a six-month-old Bengal tiger.
The project is interactive, so each sculpture has a QR code with information and images of the real-life animal in its natural habitat and with an understanding of the diversity of wildlife, the plight these animals face and why they are so important to our planet.
Nearby too are Gillie and Marc’s Rabbitwoman and Dogman sculptures, with a sign explaining the installation and telling of the work of Gillie and Marc.
Gillie and Marc Shattner are two British and Australian collaborative artists who have been called ‘the most successful and prolific creators of public art’ by the New York Times. They create innovative public sculptures, seeking to redefine what public art should be and spreading their message of love, equality, and conservation.
Gillie and Marc are known for Rabbitwoman and Dogman, two trademark characters who tell the tale of two opposites coming together as best friends and soul mates. They stand for diversity and acceptance through love. Their public artworks can be seen New York, London, Singapore, Shanghai and Sydney, and they have raised hundreds of thousands for wildlife charities.
Last year, I enjoyed their collections in Spitalfields, including the ‘Herd of Hope’ – a family of 21 life-sized bronze elephants embarking on the journey of a lifetime as they migrate across London – and ‘Together Forever on Wheels,’ incorporating two of their most popular sculpture themes, Rabbitwoman and Dogman, Vespas and coffee.
Now I need also to see the ‘Wild Table of Love,’ Gillie and Marc’s exhibition in Paddington, with the invitation to join the banquet, with Rabbitwoman and Dogman host at the party. The animals are already tucking in at the table, and all that is left is for the public to take our seats.
• Wild About Babies is Paternoster Square until January 2025.
