30 rooftop figures to give London nude horizons

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More than 30 life-size sculptures of a naked male body are to be exhibited across the London skyscape.

Westminster council has followed Lambeth by giving planning consent to the work by Antony Gormley.

The installation, called Event Horizon, is one of the largest-ever urban public art commissions.

It will be mounted next month to coincide with the first major London exhibition of Gormley's work, to be held at the Hayward Gallery from 17 May to 19 August.

The figures, based on the sculptor's own body, will be placed in various locations near Waterloo Bridge, including the London Television Centre, the National Theatre and the Shell Centre. All will face the Hayward Centre.

The final sculpture is planned for the United Grand Lodge of England and will be considered by Camden council next week.

Letters supporting Gormley, designer of the Angel Of The North, were received from architect Richard Rogers, the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, V&A, Royal Academy and the Tate.

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Arts body: How one of the figures would look on the National Gallery

Gormley, who lives in the capital, said: "I think it's a tribute to everybody that I've been allowed to get away with it. I feel so grateful to all the people who said, 'Why not?' That attitude - 'Let's do it' — seems to be possible in Britain at the moment.

"If you're able to put a naked body on top of a building perhaps you can do other stuff that isn't necessary."

Recently, Gormley's 100 cast-iron figures of naked men were allowed to remain on Crosby Beach, Merseyside.

His one regret is that the management of the Houses of Parliament refused to allow any works on the roof.

"After all of the blandishments this Government has given us about culture being at the core of its policy... I think this shows a certain lack of openness within Westminster in their attitude to contemporary culture," said Gormley.

Ralph Rugoff, the director of the Hayward, said it was a privilege to be working with the artist on the exhibition.