Special WW1 Commemorative piece

This artwork has been exhibited as 2D glass on a window installation set up by Professor Vanessa Cutler and her colleagues. Artists were invited to submit work which was a personal response to WW1. I chose to submit a piece which explored trench art...

 

‘Our friends (...) dropped us a couple of “Easter Eggs” (Shells),which flew all over the place when they burst.’ Love letters between Lucy Townend and soldier, Henry Coulter.



Soldiers in the trenches crafted objects in very challenging surroundings of daily survival and death. They showed great resourcefulness for recycling what little materials they had available and keep beauty at hand in mind. My Memorial piece exhibited, quotes their use of bright metals in patterned lighters, letter openers and knives for example. The piece incorporates materials, which I have recycled myself. The main body of the roundel is made of fused glass with gold leaves in between. A craftsman who no longer needed it, gave it to me.



The linear patterns (suggestive of maps, trenches, greens/branches, clocks’ hands, scars/stiches, flying/falling shells or other weapons) are recycled glass pieces recently used to sandblast labyrinths patterns on flashed glass. It shines like a medal or an “Easter Egg.

It is memories all about: Rewards/Medals, Bravery/Humour, Body attacked, Mind wounded, Silence, Support from and to loved ones, Frontiers, Night or Day, Mirroring/Reflection, Presents from loved ones, Circular earth explosion marks... More images of this piece can be found on my Facebook page!

It is not displayed as in the photographs here within the actual exhibition; Commemorating the First World War in Glass at Swansea National Waterfront Museum - on display until 22nd February 2014. I look forward to viewing photos of it on site and later the exhibition with a visit to Swansea too!