Posted on 11/08/2014 8:08:29 AM PST by Fenhalls555
It’s rare that any piece of art – let alone modern art – captures the imagination, and the hearts, of the entire nation.
In my near 50 years on the planet I can’t think of anything that has come close to the impact of the sea of poppies at the Tower of london.
Earlier this week I saw for myself the astonishing spectacle of another sea – the sea of men, women, boys and girls who have queued up in vast numbers to see the poppies with their own eyes.
But even the majority of us who have seen the poppies only on TV and in the newspapers are awed by the majesty and the beauty.
Tom Piper, the theatrical set designer behind the genius idea – it’s an over- used word but surely merited – has managed something astonishing. He has created an artwork that is both breathtakingly beautiful and redolent with meaning.
So much modern art – defined even its loosest sense – is ugly. Many of today’s artists appear to think they are worthy of the label only if they shock the rest of us or create something that appals our innate sense of beauty.
(Excerpt) Read more at express.co.uk ...
Sure that’s not from the blood of all the beheadings held there over the past 800 years?
That’s art? They call it landscaping here in Florida.
I would not dream of mocking a US ceremony or installation to commemorate those brave men and women killed in action. You should demonstrate a similar respect.
Many thanks for showing such respect towards the hundreds of thousands of British war dead. In failing to understand the significance of the poppy you only demonstrate your own ignorance and provincialism.
Not sure if every poppy represents a fallen soldier/sailor/airman, but they did lose a generation of men during WW1.
I agree with your sentiments.
I can only imagine how moving it would be to experience this memorial in person.
I didn’t say it wasn’t significant - or beautiful - just not art (imo).
It does, one poppy per KIA, all 800,000+ of them.
Poppies at The Tower of London ~ Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvMrfsirqBM
Saw this on tv the other day.... wow
I saw quite a few photos of it, as it grew over time. The one with it flowing down one of the walls of The Tower was stunning.
Ah, from the article: “Sir Antony gormley’s Field is made up of 35,000 individual terracotta figures...”
Thanks for the link - very moving
How foolish they were to think the visitors would not be on their best behavior.
This is the type of community art that the British do so well. They have a true knack for beauty.
I must say the first time I saw the poppies pouring like blood from the Tower, I thought of Henry the 8th.
In this case the context actually makes it very moving. The red is the blood of all of those that died. The poppies are the symbol of “remembrance” and flowing from the Tower symbolizes in a way the end of the Britain of the past 1000 years. Almost like the mystique of “for King and country” was ripped open to bleed out like never before.
The UK never went back to the pre-WW1 way of thinking of their country.
You should see their Festival of Remembrance from the Albert Hall, which will be held tonight but will not be on US TV to my knowledge. Youtube only. I am not aware of anything quite like it on our Memorial Day. The Queen, the PM and the people all gathered to sing and pray in memory of the war dead.
Here is a short excerpt from last year’s Festival:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hQ1vhbQmeM
And a longer excerpt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS_nBmJlQjg
Just looking at the photo gave me chills. Beautifully done, a fitting tribute to the many great men, and women, of England who lost their lives.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.