Faces Of War
A tribute to those who lost their lives in World War 1
Art installation called 'Faces of War' is made with sleepers from First World War railway tracks found in the area of Flanders.
'Faces of War' is an art project by myself that focuses on commemorating the First World War through the use of material from that period, namely railway sleepers. I give these railway sleepers a new life by adorning them with human faces. Each face on the railway sleeprs serves as a silent witness to the events during the war in the region where they were found. The number 129 is based on the number of contemporary countries identified by Dominiek Dendooven from IFFM as originating from which war victims came.
The railway sleepers retain all the traces and scars of the war, such as nails, screws, and impact marks. Sometimes, bullets or shrapnel that have remained lodged in the wood are still visible. By transforming these objects into artworks with human faces, the human impact of the war becomes tangible, and the victims are given a face.
'Faces of War' is not only a tribute to the victims of the First World War but also a reminder of the horrors of war and the importance of peace. The artworks invite reflection and remembrance, contributing to keeping alive the memory of the events that unfolded during this dark period in history.
For this installation, he uses 129 reclaimed railway sleepers from the First World War, in which traces of the war are sometimes still visible.
'Faces of War'
on tour
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Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 (from April 25 to July 25, 2021)
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Yser Towers Museum at the IJzer (from August 1 to October 3, 2021)
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Ypres, location near the Menin Gate (from October 30 to January 9, 2022)
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Erin (France), Erin-La Grande Ecole (6, 7 and 8 May 2022)
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Arras (France), Carrière Wellington Museum (from April 9 to 11 November 2023)