Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
"Queen and Country
Steve McQueen, 2006
In 2003, the artist Steve McQueen was commissioned by the IWM to respond to the war in Iraq. During his stay in Basra, he was deeply moved by the professionalism of the armed forces, their resilient spirit and unity of purpose in the face of the death and chaos around them. He discovered a strong community bound by tradition and service, the like of which he had never encountered before.
McQueen wanted the Royal Mail to honour the service of those in Iraq by producing stamps that featured the faces of men and women who had died. The images used would be chosen by their families. Mounted in this oak cabinet are sheets for 160 service personnel who died in Iraq. The faces on them create an intimate and compelling memorial to those who served and died for Queen and Country.
To date Royal Mail has not used these faces on their stamps. McQueen will not believe the work to be complete until they do.
"
I'm afraid Mr McQueen has a long wait if he expects his installation ever to be 'complete'. Royal Mail (which must presumably have permitted the use of the Queen's head) simply do not do that sort of commemoration.
Still, the choice of a 'postage stamp' in full 12x14 sheet form and in a traditional pull-out display cabinet is an interesting comment on how McQueen thinks these men and women might best be remembered by the public. Is he right, though? What do you think?
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
At the Imperial War Museum in London there is an unusual installation consisting of 160 sheets of 'stamps' in a familiar pull-out display cabinet. Here is a (not entirely well photographed) example, with the wall-mounted description below:
"Queen and Country
Steve McQueen, 2006
In 2003, the artist Steve McQueen was commissioned by the IWM to respond to the war in Iraq. During his stay in Basra, he was deeply moved by the professionalism of the armed forces, their resilient spirit and unity of purpose in the face of the death and chaos around them. He discovered a strong community bound by tradition and service, the like of which he had never encountered before.
McQueen wanted the Royal Mail to honour the service of those in Iraq by producing stamps that featured the faces of men and women who had died. The images used would be chosen by their families. Mounted in this oak cabinet are sheets for 160 service personnel who died in Iraq. The faces on them create an intimate and compelling memorial to those who served and died for Queen and Country.
To date Royal Mail has not used these faces on their stamps. McQueen will not believe the work to be complete until they do.
"
I'm afraid Mr McQueen has a long wait if he expects his installation ever to be 'complete'. Royal Mail (which must presumably have permitted the use of the Queen's head) simply do not do that sort of commemoration.
Still, the choice of a 'postage stamp' in full 12x14 sheet form and in a traditional pull-out display cabinet is an interesting comment on how McQueen thinks these men and women might best be remembered by the public. Is he right, though? What do you think?
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.