7
cultureMARCH09
It's an art
work � a
tribute to the
deceased and
a reflection on
the validity of
war, the
structure of
power and
notions of
public identity
the deceased, he produced a series
of facsimile postage stamp sheets,
each one commemorating an
individual casualty.
At the start of the project 115
familieswereaskedtoparticipateand
97 of them agreed. Subsequently
there have been 39 additions.
Ideally, McQueen would like to
have the stamps issued officially by
the Royal Mail so that the sending of
a letter would constitute a small act of
remembrance.
The Royal Mail has demurred, in
spite of a campaign led by The Art
Fund, the UK art charity, involving an
online petition.
"An official set of Royal Mail
stamps struck me as an intimate but
distinguished way of highlighting the
sacrifice of individuals in defence of
our national ideals," says McQueen.
In response to those who might
suspect a subversive element to the
work, he replies: "It is neither pro-war
nor anti-war.
"It is a work of art that helps us
reflect upon the many complex
feelings we have about war.
"It seems, for those who are
against the war, my project is
regarded as a good thing. For people
who support the war, it is regarded as
a good thing too.
"The work is like a sphere � roll it
this way, roll it that way. In the end, it's
an art work � a tribute to the
deceased and a reflection on the
validity of war, the structure of power
and notions of public identity."
Without the involvement of Royal
Mail, McQueen says he regards the
project as incomplete. But in the
meantime he has created a cabinet
which contains the facsimile stamp
sheets.
TheArtFundpresentedthecabinet
to the Imperial War Museum in
November 2007 and it has since
been shown at various locations
around the country.
While it didn't come to Baltic, it is to
be displayed at mima in
Middlesbrough, giving relatives of the
deceased who came from the North
East a chance to see it.
Even though he didn't get exactly
what he wanted in Iraq, McQueen,
who is primarily a film-maker, says he
was impressed by the camaraderie of
the men and women he met on active
service.
Those who pay with their lives in
wartime are often seen briefly in the
newspapers and on television but
thentheytendtobecomeastatisticin
an ongoing conflict.
Among the parents who have
supported the Queen and Country
project is Elsie Manning, from South
Shields, whose daughter, Staff
Sergeant Sharron Elliott, of the
Intelligence Corps, died in 2006. An
interview with Mrs Manning can be
seen on www.journallive.co.uk.
Julie Maddison, whose Royal
Marine son Christopher died in 2003,
aged 24, said: "A commemorative
stamp is a small price to pay for a life
but it is a respectful way to remind us
of all of those who gave their lives for
thewarinIraq,whetherweagreewith
the war or not.
"Our soldiers had no choice but to
gowheretheyweresentbutsawtheir
job through bravely and with
dignity."
For more details about Queen and
Country and the online petition, visit
the website www.artfund.org
Queen and Country can be seen at
mima from March 18 until May 3,
coinciding with the sixth anniversary
of the invasion of Iraq and heralding
the withdrawal of troops this
summer.
For details of all mima
exhibitions, visit
www.visitmima.com
British troops in action in Basra, Iraq, in 2006.

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