'Broken Faces' explored in new art exhibition

8 November 2018

News image — "The dead are often remembered, the survivors are often not," said Matthew Healey

Matthew Healey The artist with his paintings — "The dead are often remembered, the survivors are often not," said Matthew Healey

Soldiers whose maimed faces needed reconstruction following World War One are remembered in an exhibition of paintings and sculptures.

The Broken Faces exhibition depicts faces as they were before and after reconstructive surgery.

Bristol artist Matthew Healey said he wanted to honour the survivors of war who are "rarely seen" as part of the commemorations for Armistice Day.

He used photographs of injured Allied and German soldiers as inspiration.

Matthew Healey Painting of a man with facial injuries — The artist wants people to remember soldiers who have been injured or maimed as well as the dead on Armistice Day

Matthew Healey Sculptures of people with facial injuries — There are 10 paintings and six sculptures in the Broken Faces exhibition

Broken Faces Images of men from WW1 whose faces have been damaged — The images used are a mix of German, French and English soldiers

Mr Healey acknowledged the works were "not the sort of thing people will want to hang in their houses" but said he would like to see them "put in a public place".

The collection is on display in the Centrespace Gallery in Bristol.