Strawberry Field unveils peace monument
The Salvation Army’s Strawberry Field in Liverpool recently unveiled an iconic, world-first monument dedicated to bringing peace and hope to the people of Ukraine and everywhere.
As the world’s focus turns to Liverpool for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, the Ukrainian Peace Monument – measuring almost five metres tall – will be a temporary feature at the popular visitor attraction and a huge draw for the throngs of visitors expected in the city this month. It will then move to Ukraine at a future date as a permanent monument when it is safe to do so.
Cast in aluminium, the statue depicts a man holding aloft a book, dove and the Ukrainian flag, with messages in keeping with John Lennon’s famous anti-war anthem, ‘Give Peace a Chance’ using the power of music to unite countries everywhere.
Situated in the gardens that were made famous in The Beatles’ song ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, the Ukrainian Peace Monument was created by 16-year-old Mexican art prodigy, Osbelit Garcia-Morales. After a worldwide search in 2022, a California-based artist coalition called the Global Peace Initiative awarded Osbelit the commission to design the sculpture.
The monument joins several symbols of peace located within the grounds of Strawberry Field, including the new Strawberry Field Bandstand, one of the most technologically advanced bandstands in the world, and based upon the drum featured on The Beatles’ iconic album cover, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Kathy Versfeld, mission director at Strawberry Field, said: “The Ukrainian Peace Monument invites our guests to make a stand for peace, whoever they are, wherever they are – sentiments that John Lennon lived and breathed throughout his life. The monument is a beautiful new symbol of hope for Ukraine, and it will be a reminder to the rest of the world of the path to peace: serve, share, forgive, dialogue. Strawberry Field is honoured to be the custodian of the monument until it can make its final journey to Ukraine, fulfilling the wishes of the Global Peace Initiative which aims to reduce violence and conflict around the world.
“As Liverpool once again unites the world through music and song, our new monument is a timely reminder to the world – in the words of John – to give peace a chance.”
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