Marc Marot's family inspirations | The Danger Tree
On 1st July 2016, with the help of the award-winning film set designer Kaye Quinn, a 2,500 sq. ft unit in London’s Greenwich became a blown-out building in a war-ravaged Flanders village. As the sound of heavy artillery fire blasted in the distance, viewers stepped through the rubble and barbed wire into the First World War. The Danger Tree had begun.
This November, to mark the centenary of the Great War, creators Scarlett Raven and Marc Marot have released a new artwork from the groundbreaking augmented reality project. The emotive piece is inspired by Marc's late grandfather, who regaled a young Marc with tales of battle.
Shall I Sing To You?
Depicting the infamous Danger Tree – the last tree standing on the battlefield – 'Shall I Sing To You' is inspired by Marc ’s grandfather, Private Eddie Bigwood (also known as ‘Grampy’. Marc explains: “At the age of 17, he was seriously wounded on The Somme, losing much of his bottom jaw and right ear. He opened up to me in his mid-80s, filling my head with unbelievable stories. He lived to be 100 years old and truly was my hero.”
The story so far
The project was inspired by Scarlett’s late father, Raphael, who passed on his interest in the Great War and the symbolism of the poppy to his daughter. In the series of interactive artworks – brought to life with the Blippar app – soldiers’ stories are transformed through poetry, film, music and narrations from celebrities including Christopher Eccleston, Vicky McClure and Sean Bean.
To date, The Danger Tree has touched the hearts and minds of thousands of people - featuring at prestigious locations including Liverpool's Martin Luther King Jnr Building, Manchester Central Library and Titanic Belfast. Transcending age, race and background, it speaks to everyone who knows what it means to love. Follow the project's journey here.
Featured Artist
From the blog
Golden Lives Never Forgotten: Nic Joly
09/11/2018
The miniature sculptor continued his fundraising for The Royal British Legion with an auction of his emotive 'Golden Lives Never Forgotten' poppy sculpture, raising £3,200 for charity.Inspired by motherhood: Scarlett Raven | I am Reborn
23/08/2021
After giving birth to her son, the acclaimed female landscape painter was inspired to see the world through a child's eyes. Her new hand-embellished prints and original artworks feature stylistic influences from Anselm Kiefer, David Hockney and Gustav Klimt.Scarlett Raven returns with powerful Lasting Impressions collection
13/03/2023
Painter Scarlett Raven's new collection, Lasting Impressions, is her most passionate and physical yet, inspired by her love of nature and her admiration of Vincent Van Gogh.Thank you for signing up to our newsletter.
We'll be sending you an email with a verification link, just click it and you're good to go!
Join our mailing list for exclusive discounts, the latest art news, artist updates and more.
© Copyright Washington Green Retail Limited trading as Castle Fine Art. First published 2012, last updated 2024. Washington Green Retail Limited acts as a credit broker and offers credit products from Secure Trust Bank PLC trading as V12 Retail Finance.
Washington Green Retail Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our registration number is 726395. Credit provided subject to age and status. Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies V12 Finance