Controversial Blair 'dead soldier' picture by Annemarie Wright

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 21, 2011 -- The eyes are unmistakably those of our former British Prime Minister but this portrait of Tony Blair hides a shocking revelation between the lines... If you look closely enough, the former PM’s face has been carefully constructed from the names of the heroes Blair arguably sent to their death during battles in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Families of those victims have already come out in support and animosity for the work of art by Birmingham-based artist Annemarie Wright, 31.

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Controversial Blair 'dead soldier' picture by Annemarie Wright

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Some say it is a damning indictment of Blair’s decision to sentence these men and women to their deaths while others, understandably, are appalled:

Maggie Kirkness, aged 44, from Leeds, lost her 24-year-old Lance Corporal son, David Kirkness, in January.

“I don’t want my son’s name on there – she’s got no right,” she said. “It’s being disrespectful.”

The piece also upset 46-year-old Rose Gentle, from Glasgow. Her son, Fusilier Gordon Gentle, was killed in Iraq in 2004 by a roadside bomb:

“It’s disgusting,” she said. “I already hold Tony Blair accountable anyway – and a picture won’t bother him.”

However, Reg Keys, aged 58, of Solihull, said:

“It emphatically reinforces the message that war costs lives”.

Upon being question upon whether she should have sough consent from the parents, Wright responded:

“Causing further upset to these families was honestly the last thing on my mind. I created this piece, with the intention of honoring these heroes and raising money for a wonderful charity. Whilst it may seem contentious to immortalise Blair, I wanted to reinforce the message that the decision to invade Iraq will always hold a certain amount of accountability”.

Similar images have been created in the past, such as a representation of Bush created using pictures of fallen American soldiers. It is clear to see how much care has gone into the detail of Wright’s work, with the name of each soldier being meticulously handwritten. A number of signed limited edition prints are available now on Annemarie's website at £100, with all profits going directly to the Help for Heroes foundation.

More information can be found online at http://www.annemarie-wright.com

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