From this September until January 2016, a new First World War memorial sculpture created from London's iconic 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation will be appearing at Yorkshire Sculpture Park as part of a country-wide wide tour.
The stunning art installation, named after the first line of a poem by an unnamed First World War solider, originally appeared in the moat of the Tower of London from August to November 2014, marking the centenary of the outbreak of the war.
The concept was created by artist Paul Cummins with the installation designed by Tom Piper and featured 888,246 ceramic poppies – one to honour every death in the British and Colonial forces in the First World War. The sculpture was an evolving piece during its time in London, as each poppy was 'planted' by a volunteer in memory of a life. By the time the final poppy was placed, on Remembrance Day, the vast field of poppies was estimated to have been seen by more than five million people.
Since then, it has been agreed that this work of art should form part of a broader act of memorial and seen by new audiences across the country.
From 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red', two new poppy sculptures have been created to prompt new national dialogue about the legacy of the war: 'Weeping Widow' (which will be shown at Woodhorn Museum in Northumberland and St George's Hall in Liverpool) and 'Wave'.
'Wave' is a installation that takes the form of a sweeping arch of bright red poppy heads suspended on towering stalks and will be presented in Yorkshire Sculpture Park's Lower Lake, situated a short walk from the main visitor centre.
Courtesy of YSP, © Jonty WIlde
The Wave, September 5-January 10, 2016. Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, Wakefield, WF4 4LG. Find out more information about the poppy sculpture here.
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