There But Not There – the Seated Silhouettes

In the summer of 2016 I proposed a thought-provoking installation of commemoration to my village — fifty clear silhouettes sitting amongst the pews. The outline form of the figures was derived from several contemporary photographs of World War One seated soldiers in uniform.

It was agreed that the installation should go ahead, and I commissioned and funded the figures.

I called it There But Not There. Designed to take the names off the walls and back into their communities, if only in spirit.

The visitor book from that first installation in Penshurst Church told me everything I needed to know about whether it had worked:

"Makes one think. Such a simple idea but it is so moving and inspirational."

"This is the most remarkable installation."

"Just perfect and beautiful. Takes your breath away."

The response was so strong that it was eventually taken up across the nation. Supported by a £2 million grant from the UK Government Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, this same installation was embraced and put in place by over 4,000 communities in 2018. Many still come out every year in November.

I commissioned clear name blocks to go with each figure, which many also took up in 2018. In my village, the primary school children set them out with the silhouettes.

Dimensions: H90cm x W50cm x D0.5cm
Materials: Perspex
Dates: November 2016 to present day