PART OF THE KS75 ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION AT CYLINDERS

THE DARK BUNKER

Background to the work

The work is in two pieces: the bunker, set in the trees to the right of the path to the Merz Barn, and an inscription in mown grass on the grassy hill above. Designed by artist Ian Hunter it commemorates one of the most infamous acts of the current Soviet invasion of the Ukraine. In February 2022 the town of Mariupol came under fierce attack from the Russian bombers, and the decision was taken to move the women and children sheltering in the hospital to the more strongly built Mariupol Art School. To protect them there the word ‘Children’, in Russian, was painted in large letters on the car parks at either end of the building. The barbarian Russians took this as a signal to blast the building to smithereens, killing over 600 women and children.

Artist’s Statement

The Dark Bunker – the Ukrainian Architecture Pavilion at the Merz Barn A monument against fascism

This project was partly inspired by the Serpentine Gallery’s ‘Black Chapel’ architecture pavilion commission, undertaken in 2022 by a partnership involving US artist Theaster Gates and Ghanian/British architect Sir David Adjaye. Past Serpentine gallery Architecture Pavilion commissions have averaged around £1 million per project. Although the Arts Council rejected our bid to the Arts Lottery for a memorial to the Children of Mariupol pavilion created in partnership with a design partnership in the Ukraine, we decided that we would go ahead with our proposal for a flagship project at the Merz Barn. Our solution to the funding challenge came about with the support of the local community and through the intervention of climate change.

As a result of the extreme storm (Arwen) at the end of 2021, and in early January 2022, about 30% of our mature trees were felled by the gale force winds in two nights. The whole site was flooded and looked like a battlefield, as in some places it still does. Most of the large fir trees in the open space to the right of the Merz path fell during the storms; they are now incorporated in the construction of the Dark Bunker.

With the help of local farmer/contractor Mike Edmondson and landscape contractor Dave Middleton we cut, trimmed and realigned most of the large mature storm-felled trees to build a giant log cabin. This was a major undertaking in itself, but the excellent partnership of Mike and Dave came up with a practical solution. They too were inspired by the ongoing heroic struggle of the Ukrainian people against Vladimir Putin’s fascist military regime and gave their full support to the project.

The Children of Mariupol project and the accompanying Sculpture Trail and Exhibitions will remain open until the end of October 2022, 10am to 5.30 pm – subject to an absence of serious gale damage.

There is car parking onsite, and no charges are made. Those who wish to are welcome to make small donations to offset the costs of the candles, and the chalk for re-whiting the landscape inscription.

Enquiries to Ian Hunter or Celia Larner on 015394 37309. littoral@btopenworld.com

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS BY CRAIG WISHART; ALL OTHERS BY CAMILLA LAING-TAIT.