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Iraq: An Artist’s Idea Of Remembering Forgotten Soldiers
Within three weeks the world would observe the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq by the US-led forces. The extent of pain and suffering of the Iraqi men, women and children (as also those of the brave US and other soldiers ordered to perform a thankless job, and their families) is yet to be convincingly reflected in the international media. Even the brave soldiers remain unsung. Now an artist in Britain has begun a heroic effort in this direction.
“In 2003 (Britain’s) Imperial War Museum commissioned Steve McQueen as an official war artist. Steve, who won the Turner Prize in 1999 with his film tribute to Buster Keaton, went to Iraq and was embedded with the troops for 10 days. ‘They were great guys, and I wanted to open people’s eyes to what was happening’.
“He (Steve) thought of stamps. He would create a sculpture – in fact a cabinet of display panels – each one holding a sheet of stamps bearing the face of a soldier killed in the Iraq war. He came home to work on the idea. The Ministry of Defence wasn’t too keen. There is always tension when unconventional artists are sent to war zones. The MoD asked why he didn’t do landscapes. More problematically, they wouldn’t provide contacts for the next of kin of the war dead.
“It was Alex Poots, then shaping up the first Manchester Festival, who put Steve in touch with some 150 families. When approached, the bereaved were far from shocked and outraged. Many were happy to provide family snaps that went into McQueen’s work. The finished piece first went on display in Manchester Central Library. ‘Some 300 people turned up, bereaved families and their kids, meeting for the first time. They got to know each other. There were tears. It was wonderful.’ The display, called ‘Queen and Country’, has been on display at the Imperial War Museum in London, since last November.
“And the stamps? There is a move to take things further. Steve McQueen is urging the Royal Mail to issue them as actual postage stamps. But the Royal Mail is hesitating. The Arts Fund – the country’s major arts charity – is now throwing its considerable influence behind McQueen’s suggestion and asking the public to do the same, by signing a petition on their website. Their survey shows more than two thirds of the public do not think enough is done to recognise the sacrifice made by British troops killed in Iraq. Now’s the chance.”
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One Response to “Iraq: An Artist’s Idea Of Remembering Forgotten Soldiers”
SWARAAJ…. This is an interesting post. Particularly for how, if one reads the sub-text of the article, one catches glimpses of the appalling attitudes/treatment British soldiers are facing upon returning home.
The British media lately noted increasing attacks on soldiers in uniform by drunken yobs (NOTE: not by angy Muslim activists…just drunken British hooligans).
In parts of the country, British soldiers are barred from wearing their uniforms in public…for the first time since the IRA ceasefire.
A sad state of affairs. New Labour's anti-military prejudices have trickled down.
An interesting post. But in many ways, very sad…and probably too late.