As Mary Jane wrote in her latest entry, the project for Peace is 'never - ever - over'. The 21 of September is a symbol, not a limit or a compulsory formality. So I hope you won't mind my posting the flags for peace created by our Spanish group 'Roots' today, on the 23rd. They set them flying on Friday, 21 September in the morning and I only got the photographs yesterday.
This is the Medieval stone bridge leading to the Town Hall of Valderrobres, where our ten flags are flying now and till the end of October.
As you can see, hanging the flags required some climbing skills! The intrepid Lilianne Cantó went up the ladder to hang her installation, an Earth globe made from barbed wire with branches of olive tree inside and a foam pigeon holding an olive branch in its beak.
The rest of the flags awaited their turn on the stone floor of La Lonja.
And then everyone got busy...
And the flags came alive...
Birgit Ploessner is a German painter who recently moved to Spain. Her lively blue flag is her first collaboration with our Group.
There is a poem written in German on her flag. I am really sorry that I cannot translate it.
Jordi Ferrer's flag installation depicts the contrast between the opposing forces of Peace and Conflict, symbolized by the white/blue and dark red colours.
Jordi is a graffiti artist, a video artist and a photographer. He was also the one who took these shots and our thanks go out to him through this blog too.
Ángel Vilamajó painted his flag on canvas and he didn't go about it the easy way!
The difference in styles and media speaks of a cheerful, bright dedication to the idea of Peace.
Jordi's dog. Not an artist but sooo peaceful!
Esther Hofmann is a Swiss painter who chose to live in this part of Spain with her husband. Isn't this coexistence of people with different nationalities a sign of peace in itself?
My own flag among the others.
Silvia Sanmiquel's letter installation. It says 'peace is freedom'.
Francesca Payera's flag with the word 'PAU' on the background. 'Pau' is Catalan for Peace.
Ángel Vilamajó and Francesa Payeras run the beautiful 'Mas Marianets', a country
house and art centre that I blogged about here.
Ángel Vilamajó and Francesa Payeras run the beautiful 'Mas Marianets', a country
house and art centre that I blogged about here.
Ana Carreras' deliberately naïve flag, a world of joy and colour.
And the completed installation.
The Medieval building of the Town Hall relates Peace to History, our cultural backgrounds, the passage of time and what we all learn from it.
How beautiful! That was such a moving collaboration.
ReplyDeleteThank you in the name of the Group! This collaboration brought us together even more and we enjoyed every minute of it. I think we'll miss it now!
DeleteWhat a wonderful work, beautiful and peaceful place...Never stop the fight for Peace it is everyday work.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you like it, thank you! It is our intention to participate in other local cultural events with this project and we hope to attract even more collaborators in the near future.
DeleteSuch a wonderfully creative and moving installation of peace. Set midst all that history...just perfect.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a video of the flags flapping in the wind :) They take on a whole new meaning. The Group and I thank you, Jennifer!
DeleteGreat collection and I love what you say about the group - a collection of folks from all over, a wonderful testimony to living in harmony. Art does that, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteArt does that indeed. A common language that goes beyond words and frontiers. Thank you!
Deletethis is magnificent -
ReplyDeleteyour choice of venue is so fitting - i love the connection to times past with current work...
each and every piece speaks volumes and is beautifully designed and executed... your town is so fortunate to have such meaningful beauty to enjoy and contemplate...
thank you so very much, ersi, for spearheading this project in your town... i wish i could see it in person, i really do -
Mary Jane, you are welcome to come and visit us anytime! You could be our guest of honour :) 'Spearheading this project', as you say, has meant a lot to me and it has also strengthened the relationships between the members of the Group, that is relatively new.
DeleteIn November the whole county will celebrate its Cultural Week and we have been invited to fly our flags again! This project is going further than we could hope for.
Ersi- I was so excited to see all the different flags from your group. What a wonderful installation. I really enjoyed all the different interpretations of Peace. Different but they all complement each other so perfectly. How exciting that the flags will continue to fly through November!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you like them, Julie, thank you! This friendly coming together of different perspectives and interpretations is the essence of Peace, I think. The common ground where we all meet in warmth and respect.
DeleteI agree...you picked a most fitting venue...a connection to the old world. It is wonderful to see the variety of different flags together as one. Merci for this lovely post.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely comment! Life is full of contrasts and peace no doubt presents many. In a way, the contrast between the environment and our work reflects that.
DeleteErsi - just spectacular - not only visually but the fact that so many artists joined in and contributed according to their own ideas; and then it has all been brought together in such a splendid place. Did you have folk passing by? And if so what was their reaction? Say hi to the artists - we must visit and talk art, peace and drink wine some day. B
ReplyDeleteErsi - this is simply a stunningly beautiful outcome. The sense of peace and gentleness, thoughtfulness and care that appears in the collection is so strong. Thank you for co-ordinating the group and sharing their talents and work with us all and for peace. I hope you are feeling a bit better now...
ReplyDelete