Opening tentoonstelling Menin Gate Moments

Inauguration exhibition Menin Gate Moments - Ieper - 12/06/2023

MENIN GATE MOMENTS EXHIBITION at the Ramparts of Ypres openend on 12 June 2023, telling the story of the Menin Gate and the restoration this piece of historical heritage is currently undergoing. Illustrator Tom Clohosy Cole's work takes you on a visual journey through the history of one of the world's most important war memorials.

From 12 June 2023, you can admire the Menin Gate Moments exhibition next to the Menin Gate in Ypres. Through striking illustrations by renowned British artist Tom Clohosy Cole (known for War Horse), you can discover more about the origin, evolution and restoration of the monument.
The exhibition takes visitors through eight defining moments in the history of the Menin Gate; from peaceful gateway to a prosperous city, to bombed-out passage through which marched the soldiers who fought and died in the Ypres Salient from 1914 to 1918. Finally, you discover how the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) transformed the gate into a symbolic monument with more than 54 000 engraved names of missing war dead, forever honoured for their ultimate sacrifice.

To ensure the long-term preservation of the Menin Gate, the CWGC is carrying out a large-scale restoration and conservation project with a focus on ecology and sustainability. During the exhibition, you will learn about the restoration steps being taken so that future generations too can visit, learn about and commemorate the monument. For those who would like to look for a name on the Menin Gate, the CWGC offers a digital alternative in its information centre: an interactive screen with automatic search function and 3D replica of the monument.

Director General of the CWGC, Claire Horton, says: "As one of the world’s most iconic memorials, The Menin Gate has become a global symbol of remembrance. Behind each engraved name is a human story. It is important to preserve the Menin Gate for future generations so that their names will never be forgotten. We invite everyone to visit this immersive and engaging exhibition and learn what the monument means to Ypres, the Commonwealth and the whole world."

Tom Clohosy Cole on illustrating Menin Gate Moments: "This project for the CWGC, despite the challenge, was great fun to do. Visiting Ypres, the Menin Gate and Tyne Cot Cemetery left a strong impression on me and helped bring these illustrations to life. Many things you read about in history books you can no longer see or visit. Through the committee's work, you can walk around these war sites and discover personal stories. I recommend it to everyone. "