Artists recreate their grandfather's war

Thursday 02 October 2014

Two local artists have been inspired by their grandfathers who served during the Great War to paint for a new exhibition to mark its centenary and to help the charity which protects people affected by conflicts today.

Peter Fancourt and Nick Parlett are two of a hundred artists who have contributed to “Remembering” - an exhibition which opens tonight at The Harbour Gallery in St Aubin.

It's the first time so many local artists have each produced a piece of work for one exhibition.

All the artists were given the title “Remembering” and asked to produce a piece of work that was meaningful to them, and 10% of sales will be donated to the British Red Cross.

Both of Peter Fancourt's grandfathers served in World War 1. His maternal grandfather Thomas Jones was a miner from County Durham who served in the Royal Horse Artillery on the Gallipoli front. He was the inspiration for Peter’s painting he has called “Not Alone”.

Peter said: “Whilst painting this canvas I wanted to continue the theme of WW1 and researching the subject I came across a very old photograph of British tommies looking at a “fallen” enemy. This image really struck a chord with me and I felt I needed to create a similar image but focusing this time on a solitary figure, looking down now at a small fragile poppy emerging from the mud and filth. I decided to put the soldier against a background of mud and shell holes and broken tree stumps and partially in silhouette.

“It seemed like an ideal opportunity to exhibit my piece, my own personal memory.”

Broken faces was a term used to describe the soldiers who ended up with terrible facial injuries during the war and is the title for Nick Parlett's work which is also a tribute to his grandfather's memory.

Nick said: "In 1915 at the tender age of 21, my Grandfather, Major William Lambert enlisted with the Queen’s Westminster Rifles, and not long after, found himself in the stinking trenches at Ypres.

This painting is a tribute to his memory. He survived the great war and died in 1994 in his 100th year."

Shrapnel was the cause of many of the soldiers' facial injuries and artists worked together during the War to create masks to help cover up their scars. Despite plastic surgery being in its early days, many men were disfigured for life.

Nick said: "My Grandfather was fortunate not to have been injured in such a way, his wounds were the unseen variety, emotional and mental.

They were just kids really....Dead and broken kids."

The artists will be exhibiting work ranging from paintings, prints, photos and textiles to ceramics, wood carving, 3D and jewellery.

It’s not just the artists who have gone back in time to commemorate the Great War. Trenches have been created outside The Harbour Gallery in St Aubin ahead of the opening tonight and they have been strewn with bright red poppies.

The exhibition will be officially opened by the Bailiff Sir Michael Birt at 7 pm.

All the artists who have contributed to it will be remembered long after the exhibition comes to a close on 10 November – local calligrapher Alele Dark is scribing their names on a specially commissioned scroll that is being framed and will go on show at tonight’s opening.

(Picture: "Not Alone" by Artist Peter Fancourt)