New public art memorial for Hiltingbury Polish camp
The camp housed Polish refugees after WW2.
Eastleigh Borough Council is launching a new piece of public art which celebrates diversity and memorialises the Hiltingbury Polish Dependants’ Hostel Camp, which housed refugees after World War Two.
The artwork designed by artist Janetka Platun, consists of three elements: the symbolic planting of a Polish Silver Birch tree, an information board about the project and history of the camp, and an illuminated neon sign on the side of Hiltingbury Sports which says,
‘There were people at Hiltingbury who had experienced these events’
The phrase is taken from surviving camp resident Marion Sobieraj’s book, ‘The Story of the Polish Dependants’ Hostel Hiltingbury’. The neon is formatted in the handwriting of a camp resident; reflecting that the Polish children learnt to read and write within the camp, where Hiltingbury Junior School also now stands.
The project has been part-funded by Developer’s Contributions for public art and supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and grants from the Polish Cultural Institute and Chandler’s Ford Parish Council.
Councillor James Duguid, representing the Hiltingbury ward said of the project,
“Many residents and especially those in the community with Polish ancestory from across Hampshire, have been wanting to see a tribute to the Hiltingbury Polish Dependants’ Hostel Camp (on Hiltingbury Rec between 1947 to 1957 and which had over a thousand evacuees living there).
"We are really pleased that developer’s funding through EBC and the additional support from Arts Council England, the Polish Cultural Institute and Chandler’s Ford Parish Council have enabled this project to happen.
"The new public art, commissioned by a steering Group from within our Community, is both contemporary and radical. It celebrates our diversity, and we are proud that people from across the world including Poland have been able to make their homes in Chandler’s Ford and Eastleigh Borough.”
The artwork will be launched by The Deputy Mayor of Eastleigh, Councillor Janice Asman at an event at The Hilt on Saturday 3 May, where historian, art critic and ex-editor-in-chief for Arts at Channel 4, Waldemar Januszczak will also speak.
Artist Janetka Platun was appointed for the commission following an open call for applications. The artist makes art about our collective search for belonging, transient concepts of home and how we deal with loss. She works closely with communities to create public art shaped by their experiences. On this project she says,
“I’m particularly interested in this commission because both my parents are Polish. My father was a Polish soldier who resided at Witley Camp as part of the Polish Resettlement Corps between 1946 and 1949. For this project my approach will be shaped by the stories of the surviving residents of the Polish Dependants Camp in Hiltingbury. The work will draw on the philosophical concept of ‘Saeculum’; the expanse of time during which something is in living memory. I want to create an exceptional way to honour the Polish people who were uprooted and resettled, and who will be remembered through this public artwork.”
Anyone wishing to attend the launch event should email Vickie Fear, Public Art Officer at Eastleigh Borough Council: [email protected]