Model Mother

A naked sculpture of her has recently been chosen to occupy the empty plinth in London's Trafalgar Square- but who is Alison Lapper and what is all the fuss about?

On holiday South Africa earlier this month, little Parys Lapper laughed and giggled as he built sandcastles and played on the beach. Watching on his mother, Alison encouraged her son whilst at the same time fielding calls from the press and media on her mobile phone. As his mum gave interviews, Parys played on, blissfully unaware of the interest gathering around his mum back home in the UK.

Alison isnt a movie star or a pop singer, but for most of her adult life she has had the eyes of the British media on her and for want of a better word she has become something of a celebrity. The recent press attention has come about because the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group (FPCG)

decided this month that a white marble sculpture of Alison naked and eight and half months pregnant will be one of two installations to occupy the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square. Alisons relationship with the British media began with the BBC television series, A Child In Time which is intermittently following twenty-five babies born in 2000 through a mix of observational filming, interviews and experiments with the aim of giving a greater understanding of child development. First filmed a few weeks before she gave birth, the production team quickly realised that Alisons inclusion in the programme was essential- not only was she about to become a single mother, but she was also facing life as a single

disabled mother- Alison suffers from phocomelia, a congenital condition which causes limb deficiency and deformities similar to those of Thalidomide victims and was born with no arms and shortened legs.

The BBC were keen to follow Alisons progress after Parys birth, believing the experience of coping with parenthood and raising a child would not only prove particularly challenging for her but that it would also make compulsive viewing. On Alisons part, the decision to take part in the programme, despite a serious amount of intrusion on her private life (filming occurs as often as every three weeks) was an easy decision to make, "I did it because I felt I had something to prove, because there were so many people saying you shouldnt have a baby, youre a single mum, youve got a disability If its televised I cant hide behind anything and its there for the world to see."

In the week they began filming her, the BBC crew watched in awe not only as Alison negotiated her daily life without the help of arms and legs, but also as she posed nude for friend and sculptor Marc Quinn (one of Britains leading and most controversial sculptors whose work addresses ideas of mortality and survival). The result of all those sittings culminated in the 15ft high white marble statue entitled Alison Lapper Pregnant, which is set to join the other illustrious residents of Trafalgar Square for eighteen months beginning next spring.

Youd think Alison would be a little overwhelmed at her naked form taking such a prominent position up there amongst decorated war heroes and royalty such as Lord Nelson and George IV, in fact shes anything but overwhelmed and is positively revelling in the attention she is generating and is happy to admit that pride of place in one of the worlds most public spaces is nothing less than she deserves, "When I heard the news, I just said to myself yes. My body will be there among the dead heroes in Trafalgar Square and it is a fantastic platform for saying to people look, here I am, this is me".

"It is a very powerful work which encapsulates so much of what my own work tries to look at- it celebrates femininity, disability and motherhood. It makes me realise that I have come a very long way" In deciding which two piece of art (the other being, Hotel for the Birds by German artist Thomas Schutter) would occupy the plinth, the FPCG took into account public opinion after the short listed pieces were displayed in the National Gallery.

Since the announcement of the winners, criticism and praise have been coming in equal measures for Alison Lapper Pregnant. Traditional art experts have condemned the sculpture ghastly despite recognising her courage. David Lee, Editor of art magazine, The Jackdaw called it "ghastly", whilst Robin Simon, Editor of the British Art Journal said he was "infinitely depressed" by the choices and glad that the sculptures werent going to be around forever.

In stark contrast, Bert Massie, Chairman of the Disability Rights Commission praised the committees choice, saying, "Im extremely proud that one of the most popular tourist attractions in London will display a very powerful sculpture of a disabled woman". Of his sculpture, Quinn says that is celebrates the sheer scale of Alisons achievement, "she was the perfect example of what I wanted to do my looking at a new idea of heroism I wanted to show someone who conquers adverse situations in their daily life".

Indeed whether you agree or disagree with the FPCGs decision there is no disputing the fact that this sculpture is a powerful testimony to a womans determination to make a life for herself against every possible physical and social disadvantage. Alison sees no reason why her body shouldnt be displayed in such a public arena, if nothing else but as a stark reminder that no one is perfect- "Im not embarrassed by my body- Im proud of it" she says, "It is every bit as beautiful as Naomi Campbells. And Im thrilled the sculpture has provoked such discussion. If it will make people talk about disability and confront it, thats great".

Whilst others would shy away from such public attention, Alison openly admits to courting it. But what else would you expect from the woman who has spent most of her life shrugging off and confounding the labels society has insisted on putting on her. Written off from the moment she left the womb but she has spent the past four decades slowly but surely proving everybody wrong. Told by staff at the maternity hospital in Burton-on-Trent that her newborn baby was deformed, ugly and unlikely to live, Alisons mother wasnt allowed to hold her daughter, instead Alison was whisked away into another room and soon after sent to the baby unit at the Chailey Heritage School for the Physically Handicapped in East Sussex where she remained for the next seventeen years.

Alison became the subject of scientific study, and from the age of six months was forced to wear cumbersome artificial limbs, with arms that had whisks as hands. Choosing to reject the sheltered workshops and other opportunities available for the disabled, Alison made the difficult decision to leave Chailey after passing exams in art, biology and home economics, "Chailey was my whole world", she remembers, "I became completely institutionalised. When it was time to leave, it took four people to force me on to the bus". But Alison did leave and after attending college in Surrey she moved to London, and after marrying and divorcing a man fifteen years her senior she turned her attention to her career, graduating with a first degree in Fine Art from Brighton University before starting work full time for the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Association.

Getting pregnant wasnt part of the plan, but Alison calls Parys conception after a brief fling a happy accident, and in motherhood she faced up to her biggest challenge to date despite having to endure cruel comments from people saying that it wasnt right for someone like her to have baby and become a burden on society. But as she has done with every other obstacle she has faced, Alison got on and dealt with it and in the process proved even the most hardened of doubters wrong, she had professional help following Parys birth, but soon adapted to the challenges brought by a newborn, "I would pick Parys up by his clothes with my teeth and lay him across my shoulder. I breast-fed him for ten months with him in a sling across my chest. Ive never been able to hold him in my arms, but were very physical with one another, so we havent missed out".

Now Alison is the proud mother of an energetic three-year-old, she is an established artist who supports herself and her son solely through artistic commissions and part-time lecturing. Tessa Livingstone, executive producer of A Child In Time is quick to pay tribute to Alisons determination to raise Parys in as normal an environment as possible, "she feels strongly that he should be able to enjoy childhood and experiment. She will even let him do things that are a little dangerous to develop his abilities and that is a brave stance for any mother and particularly for her".

Alison herself is adamant that she wont be a burden on Parys as he grows up, balking when people say he can look after her when he is older, "no way- he has to live his own life" she says. In fact when Parys does try and help her she makes a point of refusing him, reminding him, "Youve got your own arms and your own life to lead". Alisons biggest fear is that if she cant continue to rely on the right sort of professional support she currently has, the authorities might decide she is not capable of looking after Parys, but she is resolute in her determination that this wont happen, "Ive had to work hard for everything in my life. Nothing is going to make me lose my son".

The empty plinth located in the north-west corner of Trafalgar Square, opposite the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery was originally designed and built in 1841 to display a statue of King William IV, however lack of funds meant that the plinth has remained empty until now. A recent poll in the Daily Mail newspaper favoured a statue of the Queen Mother to take the vacant spot, whilst Alison says she is sympathetic to this idea, she remained resolute that the committee made the right decision, "Im not anti-Royal by any means", she explains, "I was thrilled to go to Buckingham Palace last year to get my MBE.

But lets face it, the Queen Mother, bless her soul is dead, too, and a sculpture of her in the middle of London would have been so boring". Whether you agree or disagree with a statue of a nude, disabled pregnant woman being disabled in one of Britains most famous landmarks, you have to admire and respect the sheer tenacity of the woman whos mother was told minutes after she was born that she would be "at best, a cabbage in a wheelchair".

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