The eclectic line-up of those who will step up on to the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square to become living monuments includes an engineer dressed as a cow, a cyclist whose pedalling power will light up his suit and a gentleman who intends to play hip-hop on a gramophone while making tea.

By comparison, the person chosen to begin the project — heralded as a particularly audacious experiment, even by contemporary art standards — seems rather ordinary. But for Rachel Wardell, the housewife and mother of two who was named as the first participant in Antony Gormley’s sculpture, that was exactly the point.

Ms Wardell, 35, from Sleaford, Lincolnshire, who was chosen at random, told The Times that the “accessibility” of the project was what made it so appealing.

“There’s nothing elitist, it is for ordinary people,” she said. “I’m one of those terrible stereotypes of a person who has no knowledge at all of art. But this shows that no matter who you are and what you do, even if it’s ordinary, like being a housewife, you can still be involved in something this exciting.”

Ms Wardell will scale the fourth plinth on Monday at 9am, remaining alongside statues of the nation’s great heroes for exactly one hour. She will be followed — for 100 days, 24 hours a day — by 2,399 participants, all chosen at random by computer.

They can spend their hour on the plinth doing exactly what they please, provided that they are over 16 and stay within the boundaries of the law. The first group of participants have been selected but applications will be considered until September 1. Almost 15,000 people have already applied.

Gormley, best known for Angel of the North, won a competition for temporary works of art to fill the vacant plinth. The sculptor said it was a wonderful opportunity to include ordinary people among the national heroes commemorated in the plaza.

“In the context of Trafalgar Square with its military, male historical statues, this elevation of everyday life to the position formerly occupied by monumental art allows us to reflect on the diversity, vulnerability and particularity of the individual in contemporary society,” he said.

Ms Wardell said that she was honoured to have been chosen to start the project. She will be armed with a green lollipop, a symbol of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, but refused to say exactly what she would be doing. “I want to keep it as simple as possible,” she said. “It is certainly not a performance.”

She added: “Antony Gormley is one of the only modern artists that I’m aware of, and that’s because I’m originally from Newcastle so I know the Angel of the North. But I find sculptures particularly satisfying and I like public art. I’m happy that I’m giving attention to the NSPCC. To be looked at and to be judged, well, that’s art.”

Ms Wardell will be followed by Jill Gatcum, who plans a performance using balloons with a card attached asking the finder to make a donation to charity.

Christine Sharman, 54, will then ascend the plinth wearing a suit decorated with images of the things that are important to her, such as symbols of modern technology. Oliver Parsons-Barker, 26, an aquatic scientist, will highlight the global shortage of clean water by dressing in a “poo costume”. David Rosenberg, 41, an architect, will mount his pink, folding bike and pedal furiously to power a pink-lighted suit.

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