There are 40 of these tall (2.5m), thin figures "living" at St Martins-in-the-Fields until July. They were carved in South East Poland by Robert Koenig and attempt to make us question our sense of welcome and acceptance of minority groups (and Polish migrants in particular) and to reflect on the journeys we make in our own lives.
The figures are undertaking a spiritual journey following the journey of the artist's mother in 1942 from her home village in Poland, through Krakow, the Nazi slave labour camps in Germany during WW2 and on to the UK. He will carve a new figure for the group during the exhibit
@tigerdreamer A minority is a group that's smaller than the controlling group of a particular area. It's nothing to do with looks, whatever those might be.
Those are really fabulous! I like them even more now that I know the meaning behind them. Sometimes I ponder how life was for the Irish immigrants in the US at the turn of the 20th century, being part Irish myself. This made me think of that.
@tigerdreamer In America the Protestant members of the KKK sure as hell hated the Irish Catholics that looked just like them. Guess it comes down to lifestyle differences instead of looking the same.
@tigerdreamer@beautifulthing@5unflow3r@shadesofgrey@sdpace@brumbe I think the artist deliberately created such large figures to mark a sense of difference and their expressions seem melancholic and lost or at least unsure, like people who've been uprooted, possibly lost everything and moved across the globe to a new place where most things including language are all new to them. They certainly are impressive in a quietly moving way when you come upon them standing there silently in small groups amid the bustle of central London.
I love the 'rugged/rawness' of them - almost enhances the hardships that they must have been up against. En-masse ... and size - they must look awesome. Thanks for the commentary - makes the pic have so much more depth.
I saw four of these down in the Crypt yesterday but couldn't get into the church because there was a concert on, consequently I didn't know the details of the concept, just felt they were beautiful done but looked very sad, now I know why. Nicely capture and an interesting post.
@rich57 More St. Martin's. Love it! :)
Not trying to stir anything up.
Rich - great shot. They look very stoic. I love the natural feel Of the colors and the textures. Thanks for the background info.
Rich, what a moving piece of art.