Home / Arts and Entertainment / Ghostly Soldier Appears at Castle for VE Day
Ghostly Soldier Appears at Castle for VE Day
9 May
Summary
- A 'disappearing' soldier sculpture named George honors veterans.
- The sculpture uses steel plates to create an optical illusion.
- It was installed at Bamburgh Castle for VE Day commemorations.
A poignant "disappearing" soldier sculpture, named George, has been unveiled at Bamburgh Castle to mark VE Day. This life-size tribute honors the courage and sacrifice of servicemen and women from World War One, World War Two, and modern conflicts.
The unique sculpture, created by Royal Engineers veteran Christopher Bryceland, is constructed from spaced vertical steel plates. From certain viewpoints, these plates align to form a solid figure, but from other angles, the gaps cause the soldier to partially disappear. This visual effect is intended to represent those who have been lost, while their reappearance symbolizes how they remain in collective memory.
Installed for VE Day, which marked the end of World War Two in Europe on May 8, 1945, George serves as an alternative form of remembrance. Bryceland, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, named the sculpture after his grandfather and stated it stands for all who have served.
The sculpture is made from weathering steel, similar to the Angel of the North, and is designed to evolve over time. Unlike static memorials, George is conceived as a travelling tribute, capable of being moved to different locations to continue its role in remembrance.
