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Arthouse Jersey | 2020

We’re all part of the story

As part of the official celebrations of Liberation 75, ArtHouse Jersey has commissioned The People’s Picture to create one of the most ambitious pieces of participatory art Jersey has seen.

‘The Face of Liberation’ is a photo mosaic featuring the faces of Jersey inhabitants, past and present, and is composed for more than 6,000 photos covering over 2,000 square feet of wall space in St Helier. ArtHouse Jersey appealed to all Islanders to send selfies, or pictures of their friends, family and ancestors to form the mosaic. We also invited people to reflect on the themes and questions that Liberation might raise. The artwork also features hundreds of photos from the Jersey Heritage Archives.

What does freedom mean to you?

During the Second World War, the Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles to be occupied by German forces. The five-year occupation came to an end on 9 May 1945 – Liberation Day. 75 years on and our community still celebrates the anniversary and the freedom that was won.

We asked all Islanders to add their face to a collective image, which forms the ‘Face of Liberation’ and become a symbol of our community today. Whilst submitting their photos, we invited people to reflect and share their own stories and thoughts about freedom; something that can all-too-easily be taken for granted until it is denied.

The entire civil population of Jersey was required to register under the Registration and Identification of Person (Jersey) Order, 1940. The cards are inscribed on the UNESCO UK memory of the World Register. Click here to access the online catalogue.

To compliment the online submissions we have been photographers out into the community to capture people in their own spaces. They have attended groups, clubs, teams and schools to capture their images and collect their reflections on freedom alongside any liberation stories. This includes choirs, sports teams, care groups or other types of clubs.

Local photography students have also been tasked to go out into the community to capture as many faces as they can in a variety of municipal locations. This has been an invaluable opportunity for students to gain experience in portraiture, and to contribute to a significant public artwork.

ArtHouse Jersey is a not for profit charity who produce large-scale exhibitions, theatre pieces, concerts and community-focused workshops and project. They support artists who have ambition and talent to create inspiring, high-quality work that can change lives. They provide Jersey-based artists with financial support and offer free advice and artist-led development opportunities, ranging from facilitated workshops and projects, guided residencies, and industry networking, to drop-in sessions with our team. They also provide international artists with residency opportunities to encourage the creation of new work.

Based at their new home at Greve de Lecq Barracks, ArtHouse Jersey have set out to enhance Jersey’s cultural tapestry, bringing and showcasing art of an international quality on our island stage.