The sculpture, a larger than life cockerel in ultramarine blue communicates on different levels. First of all is the consideration of the formal aspect of its placement: the mostly grey architecture of Trafalgar Square would receive an unexpectedly strong colour accentuation, the size and colour of the animal making the whole situation surreal or simply unusual. The cockerel is also a symbol for regeneration, awakening and strength and finally, the work refers, in an ironic way, to male-defined British society and thoughts about biological determinism.

Artist biography

Born in 1956 in Essen, Germany, Katharina Fritsch lives and works in Dusseldorf.  Her sculpture plays on the tension between reality and apparition, between the familiar and the surreal or uncanny. Her iconic images, installations and sound works imprint themselves of the viewers mind. Singular forms are often used repeatedly to create a psychotic proliferation.

She represented Germany in the 46th Venice Biennale and has had many solo exhibitions including Dia Center for the Arts, New York (1993), SF MOMA (1996), Museum fur Gegenwartskunst, Basel (1997), Tate Modern, London (2001), K21, Dusseldorf (2002) and a survey exhibition at Kunsthaus Zurich and Deichtorhallen Hamburg (2009). Katharina Fritsch is represented by Matthew Marks Gallery, New York and White Cube, London.