Lommel unveils memorial artwork to commemorate victims of the 'Death Wire'

Lommel, Belgium, recently held a poignant ceremony to commemorate two local residents who perished 110 years ago on the infamous 'Dodendraad,' or 'Death Wire.' This electric border barrier, erected by German occupiers during World War I, separated occupied Belgium from neutral the Netherlands and served as a deadly obstacle for those attempting to cross.

The 'Dodendraad' was an extensive and lethal system, spanning approximately 330 kilometers and carrying a formidable 2,000 volts. It is estimated that over 1,000 people lost their lives attempting to navigate this treacherous barrier, with many victims remaining unidentified to this day. Lommel, in particular, recorded the highest number of fatal casualties among all the municipalities along the border.

During the commemoration, Peter Van Den Eynde and Elisa Poets were personally honored. Van Den Eynde, 45, died in September 1916 after accidentally touching the wire while attempting to cross into the Netherlands with companions. Elisa, who was active in the resistance, was electrocuted in December 1916 while helping a group cross the border.

To ensure the memory of these victims endures, the Charlotte J. van der Seijs Foundation commissioned a memorial artwork. Following a competition, Dutch artist Karin Van Ommeren's design was selected. Her artwork, now installed at Blauwe Kei in Lommel, incorporates elements symbolizing the barrier's poles, wires, and the suffering of the victims, with a figure suspended high in the wires referencing the crucifixion. A daisy, a symbol of World War I, grows on the reverse side, adding another layer of historical context.

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In the work, I wanted to combine different elements of the Dodendraad: the vertical shape of the poles, but also the wires and the suffering of the victims. That the person hangs high in the wires is a reference to the image of Christ. On the back, a daisy grows, a symbol of the First World War.