Antony Gormley meets applicants for his One & Other fourth plinth project David Parry

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FROM a ballerina, a man wearing only underpants and socks, and women knitting, to martial artists, poets and a guy dressed as Where’s Wally – this was the odd group who converged on Trafalgar Square today hoping to get their place on the fourth plinth.

The unlikely get-together was a dry-run for sculptor and artist Antony Gormley’s fourth plinth project, One & Other.

The work – conceived as a portrait of the UK in 2009 – will run from 6 July to 14 October as part of the rolling programme of contemporary arts commissioned for the the square's empty plinth.

So far, more than ten thousand people have applied to be part of the work. Every hour, 24 hours-a-day for 100 days, a different person will take their place on the plinth as a continuous monument in time.

Gormley, the artist behind the Angel of the North in Gateshead and Crosby beach's Another Place, looked on proudly as hopefuls tried out their moves by Nelson’s Column.

A total of 2,400 people will be chosen randomly in a ballot to get their chance on the plinth.

The artist revealed that even he has applied to be a part of his own work.

Gormley said: “Yes I have applied but I am interested in just being there and not doing too much.

"This is just a simple idea about life taking the place of art"

“I tried standing still for about 20 minutes and it’s quite a challenge.”

He added: “This is just a simple idea about life taking the place of art.”

Those taking part in the practice included 21-year-old English National ballerina, Anna Forbes.

“This is an amazing project. It is the chance for us to show that ballet is a beautiful thing,” she said.

Singer Cleveland Watkiss, from the band the Jazz Warriors, added: “It’s a great idea. It’s our chance to have a voice.”

But the bravest of all was artist Tom de Frester, 25, who was posing just in his tight boxer shorts and socks in homage to Caravaggio’s David & Goliath.

He told thelondonpaper he was attempting to “turn an over-serious painting into something seemingly ludicrous”.

“I will be quite aware of being viewed like this and I think it will be quite strange.

“I’m not sure what I will be wearing for the real thing. But ideally the pants will be fluorescent pink.”