The Hauntings

• From 11 October to 7 December
• Near the Menin Gate

The Hauntings is a 6.5-meter-high artwork, constructed entirely of wrought iron.
The sculpture will be installed near the Menin Gate. This image faces the Menin Gate, symbolizing the names of those who never returned from the battlefield.

The initiative for the statue came from Jo Oliver, who lives in the Dorset and Somerset area.

In her youth, Jo heard a story of a young soldier who wandered the misty fields. You could hear him, feel him, and sometimes even see him as he searched for his home, his loved ones, and his ultimate destination.

When she later moved near these fields, Jo saw it as her commission to have this figure sculpted from a welded piece of discarded metal.
The intricate details allowed light to filter through his form, giving the sculpture a mystical aura.

This soldier represents the common man. He is not affiliated with any race or politics, and certainly not with a love of war.
He plays a vital role, commemorating all that is good in the common man challenged by war or other adversity.

After its installation at the Menin Gate, the statue will return to the United Kingdom for its final, permanent location: the estate of Jo and her husband, Paul.

Full text by Jo Oliver