Photographs, letters or items of ephemera connecting to personal histories of war will be referenced by the artists to inspire the creation of the artworks. Personal histories and stories are interpreted to produce a unique metal and enamel brooch in the form of a wildflower or leaf. The brooches reference international botanical forms collected from France, NZ, Australia, and the UK.
In addition to this, the artists draw on object-related material available in public archives and museums online. The wreath is exhibited as a work in progress allowing people to view the unfinished wreath and imagine how they might contribute to its completion.
The ‘wreath in progress’ illustrates openness and encourages participation through the contribution of source material from local communities in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. A participant can upload their artefacts and memories to one of the existing World War One archives available around the world. This link can then be provided to the artists and added to the Flowers of War archive. Artists will then interpret collected artefacts and stories to create individual brooches.
To submit your story, artefact to the Flowers of War project:
Firstly upload your information to one of the free web archives below:
- Canterbury 100 (Canterbury 100 is a collaborative project, coordinated by the region’s major cultural and heritage institutions, telling the story and experiences of Canterbury people during the First World War.)
- Online Cenotaph (Online Cenotaph is Auckland Museum’s digital social space where enthusiasts, families, and researchers can share and contribute to the records of those who served for Aotearoa New Zealand.)
- Stories of Remembrance (The Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne is collecting First World War Stories of Remembrance.)
Next, send the link to your submission to the Flowers of War project at participate@flowersofwar.org.
The Paper Wreath
When Flowers of War is exhibited people viewing the work have the opportunity to create their own flower or leaf form and contribute to a paper wreath. The paper wreath is built daily while the artists are with the exhibition.
