Shropshire Star

Shropshire artist's tribute to victims of the trenches

It is a poignant tribute to the thousands from Shropshire killed in the First World War.

Published

Artist Carl Jaycock has created Remembrance Field, featuring 4,663 images of men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

The work at St Mary the Virgin Church in Shrewsbury includes pictures of soldiers on prints that been formed into tubes that resemble shell cases.

The installation wraps itself around the church and also includes a few old original Great War shells decorated with flower patterns and negated of their original use by the soldiers 100 years ago.

Carl who lives near Telford said: "Soldiers used to scratch on the shells and create beautiful things – trees and nature. So they were negating war by creating beauty."

The installation at the St Mary's Street church flows from the remembrance altar and finishes with 113 candles that are symbolic of unknown soldiers on monuments in Shropshire.

The project has been supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. It is also supported by The Churches Conservation Trust, Shropshire Regimental Museum and Herefordshire Archive Services.

Carl, who lives near Telford, did his research through War Illustrated. , a magazine published during the period. The artist also worked with Shropshire Regimental Museum and Herefordshire Archive Services.

The exhibition at the church in St Mary's Street opened yesterday and runs until September 11. A free talk about the installation will be given by the artist on Saturday August 15 when he will be speaking about his artwork and sharing an informal look his public art practice.

He will be available every Tuesday at the installation to talk about his art installation from 10.30am-12.30pm throughout the exhibition.

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