Imperial War Museum Manchester

This week I visited the Imperial War Museum in Manchester to continue my research into archives and collections. The museum exhibits many artefacts from various conflicts and wars. At the moment there is an exhibition called 'Lest We Forget', a memorial to mark the hundredth year anniversary of the end of the First World War. This exhibition shows the casualties and loss of life during this conflict.

Within the museum on display were old, delicate poppies. The poppy has become the symbol of remembrance every November. Armistice Day is on the 11th November each year. It represents the day the Great War ended, and the gunfire ceased at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. The occasion is marked with a two minute silence to remember those who served their country and lost their lives.

The symbol of a poppy as remembrance was inspired by the Canadian Lieutenant Colonol John McCrae who wrote the poem 'In Flanders Fields'. He referred to the devastation and death surrounding him and seeing a small symbol of hope in the shape of the simple poppy flower, the delicate flower survived, despite the barren war torn land it was growing in. Each year The Royal British Legion raises money through the poppy appeal for soldiers and their families.

I have been inspired by this simple flower. A symbol of hope and memory and intend to investigate and explore this image further, to produce various different digital designs.

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