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In the language of flowers, the poppy can be a symbol of oblivion or imagination. However, the poppy has also come to be a symbol of remembrance since World War I
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The remembrance poppy is an artificial flower worn in some countries to commemorate their military personnel who died in war. Inspired by the war poem "In Flanders Fields", and promoted by Moina Michael, they were first used near the end of World War I to commemorate British Empire and United States military casualties of the war. Madame Guérin established the first "Poppy Days" to raise funds for veterans, widows, orphans, liberty bonds, and charities such as the Red Cross. Today, the remembrance poppy is mainly used in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth
The First World War was the first global conflict, ‘A war to end all wars’. Over 30 countries joined the war between 1914-1918. Fighting occurred not only in Europe on the ‘Western Front’, but in south eastern and eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. An estimated 37 million people, military and civilians, lost their lives. The First World War Centenary commemorations were a world-wide act of remembrance to honour and remember those who lost their lives in the Great War
The Wave To commemorate the centennial of Britain’s involvement in the First World War, ceramic artist Paul Cummins and stage designer Tom Piper conceived of a staggering installation of ceramic poppies planted in the famous dry moat around the Tower of London, titled “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red” Weeping Window
The blood-red tide which flows from one of the palace’s windows and laps at its ancient stone walls was made of hundreds of thousands of individually handcrafted ceramic poppies. Titled “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red”, the work consist of 888,246 red ceramic flowers—each representing a British or Colonial military fatality—that flow through grounds around the tower
Each of the 888,246 blooms in the artwork represents a life lost in World War I – one for each of the British and Colonial soldiers killed in the conflict that began 100 years ago. And as Britain commemorates Armistice Day in the war’s centenary year, the final poppy of “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red,” was “planted” shortly before 11am on November 11, the time at which the armistice was signed, ending the war in 1918
“Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red,” Weeping window
The clay models were handmade under artist Paul Cummins and the setting was designed by Tom Piper
The stunning installation covers 16 acres, which is roughly equivalent to 250 tennis courts or 16 soccer fields
Teams of volunteers worked day and night to carefully assemble each flower. Ninety tons of steel was used to create the stems of the poppies, which varied in length from 1m to 50cm, and the structures which made the red flowers look like they were floating over the moat or pouring out of one of the tower's windows
Paul Cummins and Tom Piper’s 888,246 ceramic flowers – which steadily filled the moat over three months. The work was one of the most powerful memorials of the centenary and was visited by over 5 million people
The original poppies were checked, cleaned and packed before being shipped to their new owners – each has been sold, for £25 (about $40), raising millions of pounds to benefit six armed forces charities. The poppies that were purchased have since travelled as far afield as the USA and Australia, as well as being taken to war graves in memory of relatives who lost their lives in the First World War
About 1,000 people a day spent two weeks removing and packing the flowers
About 8,000 people take part in the removal process overall, many of whom were among the 19,000 who put the flowers in
Wave is a sweeping arch of bright red poppy heads suspended on towering stalks The ‘Wave’ over the bridge leading to the Byward Tower, Tower of London
The ‘Wave’ and ‘Weeping Window’ (the cascade of poppies which spilt from a window of the castle), toured to 19 locations around the UK until 2018. They have been seen by over 4.6 million people
The ‘Wave’ The Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson 13 April - 24 June 2018
The Royal Armouries is guardian of one of the finest national collections of arms and armour in the world, with its origins based within the Tower of London
Fort Nelson is part of a large ring of forts built to defend the naval base of Portsmouth. During the First World War it became home to part of Herbert Kitchener’s volunteer army The ‘Wave’ The Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson
Poppies ‘Wave’ at the Plymouth Naval Memorial 23 August - 19 November 2017
Poppies ‘Wave’ at the Plymouth Naval Memorial 23 August - 19 November 2017
Poppies ‘Wave’at Barge pier, Shoeburyness, Southend-on-sea 12 April - 25 June 2017
Poppies ‘Wave’ installed at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield from 5th September 2015 to January 2016
Poppies ‘Wave’ installed at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield from 5th September 2015 to January 2016
The “Weeping Window” display at Middleport pottery, Stoke-on-Trent 2 August 2018 - 16 September 2018
The Weeping Window at Hereford Cathedral 14 March - 29 April 2018
The Weeping Window at Hereford Cathedral 14 March - 29 April 2018
The ‘Weeping Window’ at Carlisle Castle 23 May - 8 July 2018
Paul Cummins, Tom Piper and the “Weeping Window” at Carlisle Castle
The ‘Weeping Window’ at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay 8 August to 24 September 2017
The Black Watch Museum, Perth “Weeping Window” 30 June - 25 September 2016
The Weeping Window poppy display at Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd 12 October - 20 November 2016
The Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd (home to the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum)
The “Weeping Window” poppy display at Derby Silk Mill 9 June - 23 July 2017
