Tracey Emin gives meerkats a brush with stardom

National affection for the meerkat is to be tested when Tracey Emin hopes to persuade the public that a lifesize model of the desert mammal should occupy the 'Fourth Plinth' in London's Trafalgar Square.



The vacant plinth was built in 1941 as the base for an equestrian statue, but stayed empty for many years. In November Thomas Schutte's sculpture Model for a Hotel replaced the controversial Marc Quinn study of the pregnant disabled artist Alison Lapper.



You can see the shortlist of the six artists for the next work to go on the Fourth Plinth here.