I know this may arch a few (perfectly polished) eyebrows – especially considering that plinthmania has currently got the entire country in its grip – but I just can’t help but take issue with ‘public art’. The artist-over-artwork agenda that tends to be behind even the most well-intentioned public works, seems to me, to be entirely missing the point.

Peter Newman’s Skystation. Courtesy of FutureEditions

I’m obviously generalising – oftentimes this narcissistic inclination isn’t entirely down to the artist him (or her) self. Issues such as funding, commissioning and patronage dictate a lot of where an artist’s time and efforts are spent and, as such, they alone are not always entirely to blame. That is unless ‘they’ happen to be Anthony Gormley.

Ensconced in his messianic fantasy land, Gormley has forgotten that perhaps ‘society-at-large’ doesn’t really want a world populated with goulish Gormley-alikes. That said, the plinth is undoubtedly all about the people and for that I applaud Mr Gormley – although I do feel a twinge of concern that his future plans may be reaching towards the bigger plinth, nextdoor. Lord Nelson, keep your wits about you.

This week however, my public art opinions have been somewhat placated. Peter Newman; British artist, cultural philanthropist and all round nice guy, will today open his latest project on the Southbank, and I can assure you, there are no cast bronze Newman’s anywhere in sight.

The Skystation – a community-seating console of sorts- is set to become the first installment in a nationwide seating project from the artist, in collaboration with the cultural regenerators at Futurecity.

Inspired by the faultless ergonomic form of Le Corbusier’s LC4 Chaise Lounge (just flipped 360º) Skystation will sit like a giant chrome droplet frozen mid-bounce on the Southbank, for the entirety of the summer, and is set to eventually be followed by 99 more permanent Skystation’s scattered across the country.

Designed to bring the heads of loungers closer together as they stare into the sky, Newman’s altruistic work of art is for everyone from Matinee-venturing pensioners to homeward-bound clubbers. For me this is real point of public art – unassuming, interesting, incredibly sexy, and above all, it’s for the public.