In the summer of 2016 Martin proposed a thought-provoking installation of commemoration to his village – fifty clear silhouettes sitting amongst the pews. The outline form of the figures was derived from several contemporary photographs of World War One seated soldiers in uniform.

It was agreed that the installation should go ahead, and Martin commissioned and funded the figures.

He called it ‘There But Not There’.

The response was so strong that it was eventually taken national and this same installation was embraced and put in place by over 4,000 communities in 2018. Many come out every year in November.

Martin commissioned clear name blocks to go with each figure, which many also took up in 2018. In his village, the primary school children set them out with the silhouettes.

Dimensions: H90cm xW50cm xD0.5cm

Materials: Perspex

Dates: November 2016 - present day

All photographs © Martin Barraud