The Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences are pleased to add 'plinthing' to the list of their staff expertise. Dr Apurba Kundu, Deputy Dean for Academic Development, was among participants who appeared in the first week of the celebrated artist Antony Gormley's One & Other project. Selected at random from more than 13,000 applicants, Apurba occupied the empty Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square on July 12 only shortly after taking up his appointment at Anglia Ruskin University.

Apurba hadn't thought of the concept for his appearance at the time of applying and starting his new job only 12 days before meant that he was still planning his plinth session until the last minute:

"I decided that what I did should be suited to the time of day and the audience. As it was a Saturday night, midnight in fact, I came up with the idea of a pub quiz. Given that standing on a plinth is essentially an ego trip anyway, I made myself the quiz topic.

"As it was, it was pouring with rain and the audience was somewhat different from the international crowd one might expect on a warm summer's evening in central London. As a result I had to change my questions then and there to engage the audience."

Despite the weather, Apurba very much managed to hold his audience, both on the ground and on the web cam, a skill which he attributes to lecturing. Apurba asked the spectators a variety of questions including 'Where am I currently a lecturer?' and 'What is my favourite pasta sauce?' with varying degrees of success. To ensure the audience remained engaged, correct answers were rewarded with a five pound note transported by paper aeroplane.

Please click images to enlarge.

 

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