For Ever Flying for Freedom 1945

Curator: "For Ever Flying for Freedom," made in 1945 by Firma W. Voet & Zoon. It’s a relief sculpture in silver metal. What strikes you first? Editor: It feels burdened, almost trapped. Despite its title, the close-packed imagery and ornate border gives it a claustrophobic feel. It is as if it is more like a token made of memory. Curator: Absolutely, there's a tension there. Produced at the close of World War II, it is designed to honor victory, of course. We must look at how the phrase ‘flying for freedom’ resonates against the backdrop of global conflict, particularly with attention to what communities, particularly women and marginalized groups, were included in this ideal of freedom. Editor: The clustered flags rising as the dominant central image, radiating outward like the sun. In iconography, rising to be ‘in the sun’ suggests enlightenment and rebirth – here a signal towards what freedom can bring. Yet, each flag seems partially obscured, suggesting limitations. The banner text feels integrated and crucial here, both physically and conceptually, creating that sense of binding all symbols together. Curator: But let's remember whose freedom was won. Examining the socio-political climate of 1945 is crucial. Did true liberation extend to all? Did these flags, beyond their symbolism, represent a tangible freedom for all, particularly considering the war's impact on various ethnic groups, women's rights, or the socio-economic disparities that persisted? Editor: I see the swirling vegetal ornamentation almost attempting to burst free from the structure as a symbol for unyielding life, which gives the promise to ‘Freedom’. Each aspect—flags, inscription, metal— speaks to a visual language of continuity and commemoration. It gives physical form to collective sentiments. Curator: I agree, and perhaps by acknowledging these paradoxes within "For Ever Flying for Freedom," we come to understand that these visual pieces ask questions regarding justice, representation, and the complicated terrain of freedom itself. Editor: Yes, seeing these symbols prompts reflection on the distance of those events. Despite this piece commemorating victory, perhaps the real freedom is how images from a conflicted past remind us of progress yet to come.