Through The Void Project

Through The Void is a collaborative art project for the Brookwood American Military Cemetery with sculptor Andy DeComyn & artist Fran DeComyn, to explore the impact of war on families through the grief of bereaved mothers.
During the First World War America lost over 100,000 service personnel. The mothers of the lost & fallen were given a gold star by the American government in recognition of the sacrifice, and these Mothers were known as the “Gold Star Mothers”. Following the war the bereaved families were offered repatriation of their 'boys', however, many families wished their sons to remain in graves where they fell and amongst their fellow comrades. During the 1920s Congress discussed a programme to escort the Gold Star Mothers and widows on trips to visit the graves of their loved ones, both sons and daughters and in 1930 the first such pilgrimage took place.

Through the Void is a sculptural & factual graphic essay responding to the story of the Gold Star Mothers’ pilgrimages to convey this to a new audience in Britain & abroad. Using a strong visual language, it will inform the audience of the impact of war on families and highlight the many personal stories behind the gravestones and names.

By forming a direct visual link between the mothers and their sons & daughters Through the Void will engage with audiences both young and old. It will also evoke the bond felt between the mothers uniting them across the cultural and ethnic boundaries of time.

A mother’s grief for a lost child must be the most painful grief there is and yet the Gold Star Mothers conducted themselves with strength and dignity whilst visiting the cemeteries and gained great admiration from the people they met. The artistic response will reflect that strength and dignity and also the sense of immense pain and loss.