Artists in Orkney to view poppies

April 22, 2016 at 2:14 pm

The display of ceramic poppies at St. Magnus Cathedral to commemorate the First World war and the Battle of Jutland. The officoal opening ceremony. 22/4/16 Tom O'Brien — Artist Paul Cummins (left) and designer Tom Piper outside the Weeping Window ceramic poppy installation at St Magnus Cathedral. (www.theorcadianphotos.co.uk)

The two men behind the Weeping Window ceramic poppy display at St Magnus Cathedral visited the county today, Friday, to attend the official opening of the sculpture this morning.

Artist Paul Cummins, pictured left, said: “For me, the reason I did this is because I wanted to do something simple that everyone could understand.

“It’s a flower for a life, and when you swarm them all together it is easy for people to connect.”

Designer Tom Piper added: “I’m really pleased with how it’s turned out here. I think the shape of it in relation to the doorway and the way it spills out to the side works well.

“We had a choice of various aspects where we could put it, and I think in the end this felt the strongest and simplest. One of the things about the design of this is it has to be a bold, simple statement, and I think it works.”

The installation marks the start of the UK’s Battle of Jutland commemorations taking place in Orkney next month.