“Really Good” by David Shrigley

“Really Good” is a sculpture by David Shrigley. It was placed on Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth between 2016 and 2018.

📷The sculpture is supposedly meant to represent optimism in Britain’s uncertain future, especially with the uncertainty of Brexit around the corner. However, Shrigley is known for creating “tongue and cheek” works. As such it is difficult to take the giant sculpture seriously. His works regularly veer between grimly comical and cynically bizarre. So, with a giant thumbs up, that stands at seven feet tall, the tallest sculpture to ever occupy the fourth plinth, it is hard to tell if this is a genuinely optimistic sculpture, or if it holds a more sarcastic meaning.

The elongated and distorted thumb that sticks out of the hand makes this piece more absurd than it already is. It almost seems purposely exaggerated. Which further suggests a more sarcastic meaning behind the piece. Is the artist trying to give London a genuine thumbs up, or is he saying well done in mocking manner?

The seven-foot sculpture was cast with black bronze and created in a style that reflects Shrigley's line drawings. Some people think that the dark colour of the sculpture shows the artist somewhat dark sense of humor. However, it does suit the sculpture. The matt black colour allows for natural highlights that create depth and show the details of the sculpture.

Although it has a mostly smooth surface, there is some texture around the knuckles and joints of the hand.

Apart from obvious oversized thumb, the rest of the hand is out of proportion. The palm of the hand is unusually long, and the fingers appear too long and skinny. The thumb itself looks more like a middle finger than thumb. This is due to its long, skinny appearance.

I quite like this sculpture. I think it's more interesting than Hahn/Cock, as well I think ideas behind it is more clearly communicated. Despite there being two possible meanings behind the sculpture, I think it's easy for people to understand it.

It’s simple in design, but abstract style of it makes it unforgettable.