THE FACE OF LIBERATION

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

WHAT DOES FREEDOM MEAN TO YOU?

Unveiled in September 2020, ‘The Face of Liberation’ is a photo mosaic featuring the faces of Jersey inhabitants, past and present, covering over 1,000 square feet of wall space along the Esplanade. 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.

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 will form the ‘Face of Liberation’ and become a symbol of our community today. Whilst submitting their photos, we also 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.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

To compliment the online submissions we sent photographers out into the community to capture people in their own spaces. They attended groups, clubs, teams and schools to capture their images and collect their reflections on freedom alongside any liberation stories.

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

OCCUPATION REGISTRATION CARDS

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

THE FINAL PICTURE

We gathered images not only online via submissions, but also by sending photographers out into the community, to capture clubs and groups. We will also partnered with Jersey Heritage to incorporate some of the photographic ID cards taken during the occupation. These images, will all come together to form the ‘Face of liberation’, juxtaposing contemporary portraits and stories with those from the past.

From all the submissions, The People’s Picture looked for one face that stood out – the one face that told a story. The chosen ‘Face of Liberation’ was Barbara Jouanny (nee L’Amy). Now 92 years old, the image is of her as a child, taken for her Occupation identity card.

THE PEOPLE’S PICTURE

The People’s Picture create innovative photo artworks and installations at the leading edge of design and technology. Creative Director Helen Marshall is an award winning visual artist, an expert in visual storytelling, digital photo mosaics and bringing communities together to create, celebrate and own their unique legacy. The People’s Picture combines thousands of photographs to tell a story, commemorate an important occasion or bring attention to important social issues.