Monument to a Lost Civilization

Proposal for Rocket Sculpture at Chiltern Sculpture Trail

This proposal is to build a 14-metre (46’) high rocket sculpture: this is the actual size of a V2 rocket, which I have based my design on.

The initial idea came to me while I was walking the trail itself; I recalled pictures I had seen of the V-2 launch sites, and I thought how extraordinary it would be to chance upon one here, all freshly painted and seemingly ready-to-go. It was almost there in front of me, an imaginary presence.

Then, after last year’s terrorist bombings in London, I started thinking about the bigger picture (again). Terrible as they were, I imagined far worse scenarios: there are approximately 28,000 nuclear missiles worldwide, 2,500 of which are on hair-trigger alert.

Most of the sculptures on the Chiltern Trail are discovered in the process of walking; that is the nature of the trail. Because of the rocket’s size I assume that it will be visible from quite a distance. Even though it is surrounded by trees the viewer will be able to catch glimpses of it as they approach, before their actual encounter with the sculpture.

As I continue to think about this project inevitably I have doubts regarding the subject matter. There are issues regarding the V2 that make me feel very uneasy, not least of which is the fact that thousands of slave labourers were used to produce it. However, I think this is one of the reasons that will make it a controversial sculpture. Having said that, the sculpture is in no way intended to be a celebration war or a monument to the fallen.

So, in essence the sculpture is a V2 rocket, but it can be viewed on several levels:

·      First and foremost it is an iconic image, which, even though it was a weapon of war, it also has a terrible beauty.

·      It represents a huge scientific achievement and is the ancestor of all modern-day rockets, which have enabled mankind to leave Earth and venture into space.

·      It is a reminder of the fragility of existence and the ever-present threat from the skies: being the current top species with no natural predator, we have become our own worst enemy.

·      It is a monument to mankind’s ever-resourceful self-destructive tendencies, and is thus — a folly.