This major and current art
installation, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at
the Tower of London, marks one hundred years since Britain's first full day of involvement
in the First World War. 888,246 ceramic poppies - each representing a British
military fatality during the war - will progressively fill the Tower's famous
moat.
The first of these flowers were planted on August 5th 2014, one hundred years since the first full day of fighting in the war. The last one will be planted on November 11th - Remembrance Day.
The iconic red poppy is a
symbol of remembrance because in Western Europe, it is the first wildflower to
appear when soil is disturbed. So after the war, the fields where soldiers fell
became large regions of crimson blooms. For me, this idea somewhat
reflects the installation – something beautiful and symbolic arising from
tragedy. The name of this installation is also symbolic - originating from a
poem written by an anonymous soldier in World War I: "The Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red."
The ceramic poppies were designed by artist
Paul Cummins, who worked in collaboration with stage designer Tom Piper who was
involved with the installation process. Cummins has become well known for his energetic ceramic flowers and vibrant
glazes, combined with the raw presence of steel and wire. Piper is a British theatre designer. Each poppy was handmade by a
team of volunteers in Derby and Stoke, working around Paul Cummins’ concept.
This video shows the making process of
the ceramic poppies. Like many hand-building projects, the clay was cut and
rolled into large flat sheets using a traditional ceramic rolling mill. A metal stamp (like a large cookie cutter) was
used to cut petals from the sheets of clay, which were then paired together to
form six overlapping petals.
The petals were then individually moulded by every artist to create the shape of the flower. I love this part of the making process because even though the makers were required to use one uniform cutting technique, the moulding by hand allows each poppy to be completely unique – not only in its appearance but also through its maker. I feel that this intimacy and interaction gives each poppy a background – a story within a story, making up this vast commemorative piece.
The poppies were then finished with a weatherproof, red glaze and assembled with metal and rubber components, ready to be ‘planted’ on site. Although the glaze is resilient, the intention is that each poppy and its metal stem will rust, weather and begin to look more natural after three months braving the British outdoors – adding yet another level to each piece’s individuality and narrative.
I really like that this piece is always
evolving. It is currently in the process of a gradual installation at the Tower
of London and once the poppies are removed from the site, they will be sent to
new homes nationwide. The poppies have been available to individually purchase
for £25, which will raise millions for six charities, one example being Help for
Heroes. This idea means that each poppy will continue to be a symbol of remembrance
all over the country for years to come. The longevity of ceramics is hugely significant
and will allow these poppies to be treasured items for decades.
As a ceramicist, history lover and a bit
of a World War obsessive, this piece is a dream come true. It
successfully and intelligently commemorates a vital part of Britain’s history
and I admire that a traditional craft like ceramics was the chosen material. Crafts such as
ceramics are often misunderstood disciplines, so to use clay on such a large
scale is really inspiring. Ceramics in the press and public eye can only be a
positive thing for designer makers in this field.
As well as celebrating a practice I am passionate about, this huge project holds some personal significance because my Great, Great Grandfather was one of the 888,246 military fatalities during World War I. On Monday 18th August 2014 the name of James Gregory, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment was among the list of one hundred and eighty names read from the Tower moat at sunset (you can see this two minutes into the video below). This personal connection to the piece is something I am sure to share with many others nationwide, adding yet more significance to an already symbolic piece of art.
Keep up to date with the poppies on:
www.facebook.com/HRPalaces
https://twitter.com/HRP_palaces
http://instagram.com/historicroyalpalaces
