A CONTROVERSIAL statue of disabled artist Alison Lapper has been unveiled in Trafalgar Square.
The 12 ton, 16-foot high marble sculpture, Alison Lapper Pregnant, by Marc Quinn, occupies the empty fourth plinth and is London's newest landmark.
Mayor Ken Livingstone hosted the unveiling ceremony.
Lapper, who was born with no arms and shortened legs due to a congenital disorder, posed naked for Quinn when she was eight months pregnant.
The sculpture has provoked strong reactions.
Naked
Lapper said: "I'm very excited about it. This is history in the making. Never before has someone with a disability, let alone someone with a disability who is naked and eight months pregnant, been put in such a public place and portrayed in such a positive way.
"There is so much prejudice around sexuality, disability, femininity and pregnancy, but Marc tackles it all."
Quinn has admitted his sculpture may shock, but said: "Hopefully that will draw your attention to it and then, once it's under your skin, there will be an emotional response."
The sculpture will remain in place for 18 months.
Bert Massie, chairman of the Disability Rights Commission said: "Disabled bodies have a power and beauty rarely recognised in an age where youth and `perfection' are idolised."
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Paul, Bury (16/09/2005 at 11:53)
"Never before has someone with a disability - let alone someone with a disability who is naked and eight months pregnant - been put in such a public place and portrayed in such a positive way."
Tragically Ms Lapper appears to be not only disabled, but blind. Or ignorant. Or both.
It's easy to miss, I know. But Trafalgar Square is dominated by a 180-foot column.
With an 18-foot statue on the top.
Of a man missing an eye and half an arm.
As many people have pointed out, Alison Lapper and Horatio Nelson have one thing in common: their handicap. But Nelson lost his eye and his arm in the course of his duties, accepting the risk of mutilation and death for what he believed was a higher purpose. Alison Lapper had no choice in the matter, however bravely, if self-advertisingly, she may have overcome her handicap. In other words, the ideas of heroism, duty, and service to others have given way to those of narcissism, self-pity, and self-obsession. So the plinth remains, in a real sense, empty.