Artwork entitled 'Feet'
Maker and role
Lucy Hainsworth (b.1935): Artist
Production date
1998
Audio tour
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Details
Description
‘Feet’ is an art piece by Lucy Hainsworth, made in 1998 as part of the touring exhibition ‘Artists in Arms’, which was part of the anti-personnel mines campaign.
A square plaster-cast slab featuring the impression of the foot belonging to a landmine victim, accompanied by the indentation from the stopper at the end of their crutch, taking the place of where their other foot would have been. Encased in a wooden frame, measuring at 56cm in both height and width and the depth of 7cm.
This exhibition was one of many ways in which the anti-personnel mines campaign reached out to the public in order to spread the awareness. Princess Diana’s visit to Angola in 1997 and her support of the Anti-landmine campaign was described by the BBC as the ‘turning point’ for the ban on anti-personnel landmines and devices.
I was drawn to this piece because of the powerful visual impact It has, reflecting not only on the physical effect landmines have on their victims, but additionally representing the permanent impact they have on the victims’ day to day lives.
Everyone can relate to the image of a foot, it’s something we recognise and deal with every day, putting on socks in the morning and taking off shoes after a long day at work. On the other half of the piece most people will be struck by something they have little or no experience of; limb loss and amputation.
Its simple materials and colours don’t distract from its potent message, but instead compliment it, giving it the attention it deserves, creating a thought-provoking atmosphere about the anti-landmines campaign.
Audio recording by Rachel Whittington (Volunteer), Manchester.
A square plaster-cast slab featuring the impression of the foot belonging to a landmine victim, accompanied by the indentation from the stopper at the end of their crutch, taking the place of where their other foot would have been. Encased in a wooden frame, measuring at 56cm in both height and width and the depth of 7cm.
This exhibition was one of many ways in which the anti-personnel mines campaign reached out to the public in order to spread the awareness. Princess Diana’s visit to Angola in 1997 and her support of the Anti-landmine campaign was described by the BBC as the ‘turning point’ for the ban on anti-personnel landmines and devices.
I was drawn to this piece because of the powerful visual impact It has, reflecting not only on the physical effect landmines have on their victims, but additionally representing the permanent impact they have on the victims’ day to day lives.
Everyone can relate to the image of a foot, it’s something we recognise and deal with every day, putting on socks in the morning and taking off shoes after a long day at work. On the other half of the piece most people will be struck by something they have little or no experience of; limb loss and amputation.
Its simple materials and colours don’t distract from its potent message, but instead compliment it, giving it the attention it deserves, creating a thought-provoking atmosphere about the anti-landmines campaign.
Audio recording by Rachel Whittington (Volunteer), Manchester.
Collection Type
Objects
Catalogue Number
1918/1
Associated Person and Role
Produced by: Lucy Hainsworth (b.1935)
Maker
Associated Person
Subject auto tags
Object Types
Part of 1 highlight set
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