Yinka Shonibare Sculpture at Trafalgar Square

LONDON -- Six months after hosting artist Antony Gormley's marathon of 2,400 one-hour performances by members of the public, a new artwork has weighed anchor at Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth: Nelson's Ship in a Bottle, a sculpture by Yinka Shonibare that displays a 1-to-30 scale replica of the legendary admiral's vessel inside a transparent plastic bottle.

The first site-specific work for the square to directly relate to its history, the model of the HMS Victory is also the largest ship in a bottle ever, featuring 37 sails crafted from colorful African fabrics and 80 cannon. It commemorates the original first-rate craft that Admiral Horatio Nelson sailed in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar, in which he was killed by Napoleonic forces. A column featuring a statue of Nelson commands the center of the square.

The sculpture will be on display for about 18 months, according to officials at the office of London's shaggy-haired mayor, Boris Johnson. In a statement, Johnson called the sculpture "the work of an artist at the top of his game" that should prompt viewers to ask "what it says, is it pro-empire, is it anti-empire?"

Those wanting to see the real HMS Victory, incidentally, can head to Portsmouth, England, where it is currently on display as a floating museum.