The People’s Monarch

BBC South East | 2012

‘The People’s Monarch’ was commissioned by BBC South East and depicts the Queen at the time of her coronation and at her Diamond Jubilee. It is 38 square metres and contains 5,000 photos. Its current home is at Gatwick Airport after touring at the Towner Gallery, the Turner Contemporary and Rochester Cathedral.

Some viewers also used the opportunity to share precious memories of loved ones they had lost. Everyday family snapshots, scans of photos of ancestors or from an era gone by, times of celebration and ceremony or times of trouble and loss, all remind us of our century-old love affair with the camera. But more importantly, this project proves that we do not need to be professional photographers or artists to be recognised or represented in an artwork and that the photograph has a unique and simple ability to speak directly to all of us, no matter of our difference.

 

Many people submitted family portraits, photos of their ancestors, snaps of important occasions in their lives and of times that made them laugh. Some viewers also used the opportunity to share precious memories of loved ones they had lost. Everyday family snapshots, scans of photos of ancestors or from an era gone by, times of celebration and ceremony or times of trouble and loss, all remind us of our century old love affair with the camera. But more important, this project proves that we do not need to be professional photographers or artists to be recognised or represented in a artwork, and that the photograph has a unique and simple ability to speak directly to all of us, no matter of our differences.

Helen Marshall

Artist

Zoom In

“We were thrilled that over 25,000 people were able to view the artwork.”

Spokesperson

Rochester Cathedral

I want this picture to represent our proud multicultural Britain. No matter how much you adapt to another culture, it doesn’t mean you lose your cultural roots.

Baljit Barlow

Contributor

Mosaic

Images

Square Metres

Days of Reign of QEII