From LIGHTS OUT marking the start of the centenary, to Peter Jackson’s astonishing film They Shall Not Grow Old, contemporary artists have brought history to life; helping us see the First World War in new ways.
Featuring 125 projects by 420 artists in 220 locations across the UK, touching millions of people emotionally, including 8 million young people.
“Completely extraordinary. Never seen anything like it before. Fascinating, educational, moving and astonishing.” After a War attendee
Artists have included John Akomfrah, Danny Boyle, Jeremy Deller, Peter Jackson, Shobana Jeyasingh, William Kentridge, Akram Khan, Anna Meredith, Susan Philipsz, Gillian Wearing, Rachel Whiteread, Vivienne Westwood and Yinka Shonibare MBE.
c. Katielee Arrowsmith
PAGES OF THE SEA (left)
DANNY BOYLE
11 NOVEMBER 2018
On the centenary of Armistice day, filmmaker Danny Boyle invited people to gather on 32 beaches across the UK, in a nationwide gesture of remembrance for the men and women who left their home shores during the First World War.
THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD (right)
PETER JACKSON
RELEASED OCTOBER 2018
A new colourised film from Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson used archive footage to portray the war as never before. The film has already been seen by nearly 4 million people and is being released on Blu-ray and DVD on 10 December.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
c. Eoin Carey
WAVE AND WEEPING WINDOW (left)
ARTIST PAUL CUMMINS AND DESIGNER TOM PIPER
2015 – 2018
The Poppies sculptures Wave and Weeping Window have been seen by over 4.5 million people at 19 locations across the UK.
WE’RE HERE BECAUSE WE’RE HERE (right)
JEREMY DELLER WITH RUFUS NORRIS
1 JULY 2016
More than 1,400 volunteers dressed in wartime uniform appeared unannounced across the UK for this extraordinary living memorial to the Battle of the Somme.
c. Amelia Allen
PROCESSIONS (left)
10 JUNE 2018
14-18 NOW and Artichoke invited women and girls across the UK to join this major mass-participation artwork celebrating 100 years since many women won the right to vote.
LIGHTS OUT (right)
4 AUGUST 2014
More than 16 million people turned off their lights in a remarkable act of collective reflection, marking the centenary of the UK entering the First World War.
THANK YOU
A heartfelt thank you to all those who contributed and engaged with the programme over the past five amazing years. Many of the projects can still be seen across the UK, with some on tour around the world – explore what’s on to find out more.
From all at 14-18 NOW.
