Artist Ted Harrison scattered over 5,000 poppies on the floor of St. Paul’s cathedral, in London, creating a giant artwork that highlight the involvement of children in armed conflict around the world.
Seen from ground level, Ted Harrison’s art installation looks like a bunch of randomly scattered poppies, but looked at from the Whispering Gallery, under the dome of St. Paul’s cathedral, the flowers form an image of three child soldiers, one from World War 2 and two from more modern conflicts. The installation is part of the St Paul’s Cathedral Arts Project, an ongoing programme which seeks to explore the encounter between art and faith, and was created to raise awareness to the issue of children being used as soldiers.
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“The poppy is now a universal symbol of remembrance. At the time of year when we rightly recall British soldiers, sailors and airmen who have given their lives for their country, this work is a reminder of the many children who have also, throughout history, died as members of the armed forces. Today a UN convention forbids the conscription of anyone under 18 years of age, but the convention is widely ignored. It is estimated there are 250,000 children worldwide in military service, a third of whom are girls. When the work is viewed from above I hope something of the innocence of these children is conveyed along with a sense of innocence betrayed,” Ted Harrison said about his unique artwork.
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Reverend Canon Mark Oakley, Treasurer of St. Paul’s, commented: “In Ted Harrison’s moving tribute the past and present are brought together in a poignant way through Remembrance poppies, scattered to shock us and warn us that history repeats itself. The human faces can only be fully seen from a sacred height. Placed in the cathedral this tribute reminds us of the tragedy of violent conflict. It is a wake-up call to us all to protest against the wickedness of arming children to fight, and die, in our wars. It is also a timely reminder that human beings should remember better – not to be comforted but to be challenged.”
Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Europe
Photo by Paul Hackett/REUTERS
via Art Daily
