We're here because we're here: How Jeremy Deller and Rufus Norris created a living WWI memorial

The project saw 1500 men in uniform suddenly appear in public on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme
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Just over a year ago today, men dressed in First World War uniforms silently appeared in locations across the country.

To mark 100 years since the Battle of the Somme, Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller and National Theatre boss Rufus Norris brought together 1500 volunteers to create a living memorial. None of the men spoke, other than occasionally singing the song ‘We’re Here Because We’re Here’ (also the title of the event). Each of them had a card with the name of a soldier who was killed at the Somme on that day.

A new book, full of photographs of the event, reveals how a memorial of this scale was put together. Deller is interviewed by Channel 4 presenter Jon Snow, and Norris writes an introduction to the work.

Described by Norris as “the biggest singular performance that the National Theatre has been involved in”, he writes that the reaction to it was “quiet and overwhelming.”

Both Norris and Deller explain that the key to the project was keeping it secret and surprising the public. The unexpected appearance of men in uniform in contemporary locations like train stations and shopping centres would provide “a jolt”, Deller hoped.

He explains that the secrecy of the project meant that they had no idea what the reaction to it would be, and they prepared the volunteers for potential verbal and physical abuse. However, the reaction was the opposite, and social media was integral to recording the public’s reaction to the memorial.

It trended on Twitter under the hashtag #WeAreHere, with members of the public writing that they were brought to tears by it.

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The project, which was part of First World War centenary arts programme 14-18 NOW, has been nominated for a National Lottery Award for Best Heritage Project.

We’re Here Because We’re Here is published today by 14-18 NOW

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