An odd encounter

During our recent trip to London we went to the RA and saw a wonderful exhibition of paintings by Anselm Kiefer and Van Gogh (post will follow at some point), then walked to St James Park and wandered around there. I then went to the ICA to see another exhibition while Ken did another round of the park. When I had finished with the ICA exhibition I looked for a bench to sit down while I waited for Ken. 

No empty benches to be found as it was a nice day and the park was full of people. The only one was this one with a statue in the middle of it, but there seemed to be enough space so I sat down next to the man and the dog.

I texted Ken telling him where I was then sat for about ten minutes enjoying the lovely day.

Then suddenly the statue turned around and looked at me. What???

When a couple and their little girl walked past, I said to the little girl that if she came and sat next to the statue it would turn around and look at her.  She did just that, and was rewarded by a thumbs up. She burst out into delighted squeals, and run back to her parents laughing.

The next couple to go by had a little boy with them and again, I explained about the statue, so the little boy went and stood next to the statue who pointed a finger at him. Not the same reaction as before though - the little boy screamed with horror and even though I kept saying that there was no need to be scared as I was there, and his parents were there, he was not having it. His mother, laughing, took a photograph of the bench and then they followed their screaming  little boy.

The statue then turned around and very confidentially told me that they were trying to scare people and were making a YouTube video of it.  He pointed to the next bench where his friend was sitting, his camera pointing at us.

He also pointed to the sign on the bench which I had not noticed before.

I got up to take more photographs,  then Ken joined us

Eventually his friend came over as well and they told us all about what they are doing.

One more  photograph and then we left.

As we were leaving we passed another family and I told the two boys about the statue - they were delighted to see him move and they even shared a high-five.