On August 12, 1647, Matthew Hopkins died. Hopkins was the self-appointed Witchfinder General in England and over a fourteen-month period was responsible for over 300 women and men being killed for the crime of witchcraft. I don't really want to say anymore about this man who used deceit and fear to bring about death and ruin lives. However, I do want to use Hopkin's death anniversary to remember all people who have been killed because they were named a witch or were most likely just different then others.
In looking for monuments for those accused of witchcraft, I came upon a most beautiful site in Vardo, Norway called the
Steilneset Memorial. Located in the far north in a tiny fishing village that spends three months of the year in total darkness is a monument completed in 2011 memorializing a seventeenth-century trial and execution of 91 people accused of witchcraft. The site was a collaboration between artist Louise Bourgeois and architect Peter Zumthor and consists of two buildings. The buildings themselves are stark and echo the surrounding harsh landscape, but the simple interiors convey much emotion. The long narrow building houses embroidered silk banners with information about each of the 91 accused. Each banner is placed next to a window with a single lightbulb swinging in the wind. The black-glass building holds a metal chair surrounded by fire with mirrors overlooking it representing those who judged the women and men.
I found two articles that I think really give a sense of the emotional impact of this monument. If you want to read more, take a look at
Witching Hour in Norway by Donna Wheeler and
Peter Zumthor's Vardo Memorial at IconEye.com.
I'm showing a few photos of the site to get you interested in finding out more. Someday, I'd love to visit. I hope you might get the opportunity as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment