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'Piffle' Tower may rise at Olympic park
Ross Lydall26.10.09
Olympics minister Tessa Jowell has given her backing to plans for an "Angel of the South"-style structure on the 2012 Olympic park in Stratford.
As the Standard revealed last week, Boris Johnson has secured £12million from Britain's richest man, steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, for a landmark art installation in the East End.
The final design has yet to be chosen, but one draft believed to be under consideration is Paul Fryer's 394ft cross between an electricity pylon and a totem pole dubbed the "Piffle Tower" after a famous mayoral quote.
Today a spokesman for Ms Jowell, also Minister for London, said: "This project will play an important part in the wider plans the Government and the Greater London Authority have to deliver a lasting legacy on the Olympic park." A winner is expected to be named within a fortnight. Five shortlisted artists are also believed to include "Angel" artist Antony Gormley and Anish Kapoor.
