© IWM Poppies: Wave at IWM North, Manchester
Until 25 November
Until 25 November
IWM London
Free
Weeping Window is a cascade comprising several thousand handmade ceramic poppies seen pouring from a high location to the ground below. Wave, is a sweeping arch of bright red poppy heads suspended on towering stalks. Both sculptures are by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper and were initially conceived as the key dramatic sculptural elements in the installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London in the summer and autumn of 2014.
Over the course of their time at the Tower, the sculptures were gradually surrounded by a vast field of ceramic poppies, each one planted by a volunteer in memory of every British or Colonial life lost at the Front during the First World War. In their original setting they captured the public imagination and were visited by over five million people.
14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, is presenting the iconic sculptures at selected locations around the UK until 2018. They have already been seen by 4 million people in 16 locations.
IWM North and IWM London are the final two locations for the sculptures, at the end of the tour the sculptures will be coming into the care of Imperial War Museums.
Wave and Weeping Window are from the installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red – poppies and original concept by artist Paul Cummins and installation designed by Tom Piper – by Paul Cummins Ceramics Limited in conjunction with Historic Royal Palaces.
The installation was originally at HM Tower of London from August to November 2014 where 888,246 poppies were displayed, one for every British or Colonial life lost at the Front during the First World War. Together, the sculptures Wave and Weeping Window are made of over 11,000 poppies.
To find out more about the Poppies: Wave and Weeping Window tour visit 1418 NOW.
Poppies: Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red
IWM
Poppies: Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red
With forewords by Paul Cummins and Tom Piper and stunning photography of the installation, this is the only official publication to mark this landmark event.
