This artwork by Liverpool artist Terry Duffy was created in the 1980s and has been in Liverpool Cathedral as well as other churches from time to time and is now on a ‘global tour’ including this major event in London.
“Victim no resurrection?”
This controversial cross at St Martin-in-the Fields focuses upon violence, suffering and conflict in the world today.
Terry Duffy’s provocative artwork is on a global tour of peace and reconciliation from Liverpool to Jerusalem and will be on display at St Martins-in-the-Fields from 9th to 22nd April 2011. This imposing and powerful cross will form the backdrop of an important two week long challenging confrontation, exploration and reflection upon the outcome of conflict in the world today.
Duffy says “My artwork shakes people out of their comfort zone and challenges them to realise the reality of suffering in the world today. It cries out enough is enough! and challenges us all to work harder for greater peace and reconciliation.”
Across nine evenings an inspirational set of speakers will give talks in church on how violence and suffering have affected their lives – including a special event on Sunday 17 April when BBC world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge chairs the important discussion Witnesses to Conflict, with Lindsey Hilsum (Channel 4) and Marie Colvin (Sunday Times) in which they explore what it means to report on global violence and the impact it has had on their own lives and values.
The other speakers are:
• Artist Terry Duffy, who will talk about why he painted the cross and its journey (Monday 11 April)
• Revd Richard Carter, a priest who faced the kidnapping and murder of seven members of his community while they were working for peace in the Solomon Islands (Tuesday 12 April)
• Bobby Baker, an artist and author who has struggled with the pain and fear of mental illness (Wednesday 13 April)
• Lucy Kralj, a nurse and counsellor who has been working for many years with survivors of torture and gross human rights violations.(Thursday 14 April)
• Major John Catto, a British soldier who has served operationally in both Iraq and Afghanistan (Friday 15 April)
• Dr Swee Ang, an orthopaedic and trauma surgeon who for 28 years has been involved in providing medical aid for Palestinians both in Lebanon and Gaza. (Monday 18 April)
• Simon Western, an academic, leadership consultant and father bereaved by his son’s homicide (Tuesday 19 April)
• Sheila Cassidy, a doctor and author, imprisoned and tortured in Chile, who now works as a palliative care physician. (Wednesday 20 April)
Revd Richard Carter, priest at St Martin-in-the-Fields and organiser of the programme:
• “We should remember the cross was an instrument of torture, and the brutality which crucifixion represents is still with us. If we really want to bring peace and healing to our world, we have to look directly into the face of violence and hear the story of the victim. Duffy’s artwork and these speakers together call us to confront the reality of suffering in our world and inspire us to bring hope and justice so that the unacceptable agony of the cross can become the beginning of transformation and change.”
See the website for more details: http://www.victim-no-resurrection.co.uk/