Steve McQueen unveils Blitz: The Wall of Resilience installation at Tate Britain inspired by his film

On 8^th January 2025, an artistic installation titled Blitz: The Wall of Resilience was unveiled outside London’s Tate Britain, inspired by Steve McQueen’s latest film Blitz. The event, attended by McQueen himself and the film’s star Elliott Heffernan, features an impactful display of silk daisies designed to highlight the lingering bomb damage from World War II that still marks the building’s exterior. This installation, which is free to view until 10^th January 2025, not only commemorates McQueen’s film but also serves as a tribute to the enduring spirit of Londoners during the Blitz.

The installation uses over 150 intricately crafted silk flowers to symbolically cover the scars left by bombings on the facade of Tate Britain. This artistic choice mirrors a key visual motif in Blitz, where daisies represent resilience, hope, and optimism amidst destruction. The film, directed by McQueen, explores the experiences of a young boy during the London Blitz, adding a personal narrative to the historical events.

Steve McQueen, known for his Academy and BAFTA Award-winning works, employs these symbols to deepen the narrative of his film, which follows nine-year-old George, portrayed by newcomer Elliott Heffernan. George’s experiences in war-torn London present a poignant tale of survival and resilience. The integration of a clip from Man Ray’s 1926 film Emak Bakia, showing the transformation of broken shapes into daisies, further ties the installation back to the film’s themes.

Blitz is a production that brings together a notable cast and crew, including Saoirse Ronan, Paul Weller and Harris Dickinson, with McQueen collaborating again with professionals like production designer Adam Stockhausen and costume designer Jacqueline Durran. The film is available for streaming on Apple TV+.

This installation not only promotes McQueen’s film but also invites reflection on the collective memory and the strength drawn from past adversities. It emphasises the message that, even in the face of destruction, there is a capacity for regeneration and hope, a theme that resonates deeply in McQueen’s cinematic exploration of the Blitz.

The editorial unit
Image: Dave Bennett

Blitz is released on Apple TV+ on 22^nd November 2024.

Watch the trailer for Blitz here: