Voices of Freedom, a multi-sensory immersive exhibition in Maesteg Town Hall, was a space to reflect and remember the sacrifices of our Armed Forces, past and present. Many visitors described it as “peaceful and beautiful” and “deeply moving”, with several noting how it brought back personal memories of loved ones who had served.
Ahead of the exhibition, the project’s associated artist, craftivist Nazeem Syed, led six creative lantern-making workshops across the Awen libraries in Bridgend County. Local people decorated the lanterns and left messages on them, reflecting on what freedom meant to them, as well as to honour the sacrifices of the Armed Forces. For many who took part, seeing their lanterns later displayed in such a calm and meaningful space felt “beautiful, thoughtful and reflective”, adding a personal connection to the final installation.
These lanterns were then taken to Maesteg Town Hall where they formed part of the immersive exhibition, created with project partner 4Pi Productions. The exhibition included several multi-media elements:
- Room of Reflection: A candle-lit mirrored room where visitors listened to a recording of the poem Freedom Road by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, amongst the decorated lanterns. Visitors often described this room as “thoughtprovoking, calming and imaginative”, with some saying they were “immediately involved in the spirit of the exhibition”.
- Veterans’ Voices: Videos of local veterans sharing stories of their experiences and thoughts on freedom, which visitors heard through individual headsets. Many found these testimonies moving, praising the empathy and care shown in their presentation.
- Fields of Poppies: Augmented reality was used to digitally project a field of red poppies, which moved as visitors walked across the installation. This interactive element resonated strongly with both adults and children, who loved the opportunity to engage physically with the space.
- Wishing Well: A well created with books, with moving images of veterans from across South Wales at the bottom.
- The Welsh at Mametz Wood: A large digital projection of the painting by Maesteg-born and renowned Welsh artist Christopher Williams, portraying the 11 July 1916 ‘Charge of the Welsh Division at Mametz Wood’. Audio shared Williams’ own experiences as he made his way to Mametz Wood, taken from his 1916 letters. Several visitors commented on how powerful and poignant this element felt within the wider exhibition.
Project photographer Abbie Poulson took photos of the exhibition and created artwork on the first day of the installation.
Voices of Freedom was open to the public from Saturday 8 November until Tuesday 11 November. On the morning of Remembrance Day, a ‘relaxed opening’ was held, with reduced visitor numbers and audio, followed by visitors and staff observing two minutes’ silence at 11am. Some described being present for the silence as making a wonderful experience “even more poignant”.
On Monday 10 November, local Llynfi Valley primary schools brought pupils to see the exhibition, hosted by Awen Heritage and Libraries staff. Pupils learned about Remembrance Day and enjoyed the exhibition in smaller groups. Especially pleasing was that the interactive poppies made as much of an impact on the children as the Room of Reflection and the Mametz Wood painting.
Across the open days, visitors repeatedly praised the exhibition’s creativity, emotional depth and thoughtful use of the Town Hall space. Many described it as “a wonderful and moving experience”, one that would stay with them, and a powerful reminder of those “who gave up their freedom so we could have ours”.
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