To mark the centenary of World War One porcelain poppies were planted around The Tower of London. The art installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red mark one hundred years of Britain’s involvement in the First World War.
The wave is a steel construction made of poppies that surround the entrance to The Tower of London.
The installation began in August and progressed through to Remembrance Day 11th November.
Poppies were created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins and set by stage designer Tim Piper. The poppies were gradually installed across Tower Hill’s moat with each of the 888,246 poppies remembering British soldiers that lost their lives.
The potters at Paul Cummins studio used hand-made techniques that were operated by potters during the First World War.
Mum and I headed to The Tower of London to capture the fascinating installation and to pay our respects to all those that lost their lives. As we approached Tower Hill there were swarms of people gathered walking towards the sight. We absorbed the magnificent sea of red, capturing the artistic qualities and emotional scene that lay ahead. The enormous amount of people added to the powerful support and respect for the families of the fallen soldiers. Over four million people are said to have visited the installation.
All the thousands of porcelain poppies were on sale but sold out almost instantly. The poppy has a significant element on Remembrance Day, as red poppies grow naturally in disturbed grounds. As the fields in France were destroyed in World War One, poppies appeared amongst the bodies of the soldiers. The Royal British legion adopted the poppy as the symbol for the remembrance appeal back in 1921.
People slowly walked through allowing others to take photos and calmly soak in the scene with a unified approach.
The weeping window represented poppies falling from a window on the top floor of the window.
The poppies created an incredible demand from the public, which has meant that the installation will be kept in place for a longer period of time. Eventually there will be a permanent installation based at the Imperial War Museums in London and Manchester.
