A ‘flock’ of 3,000 paper doves has arrived in the rafters of Salisbury Cathedral.
The impressive display of white birds has flown all around the world from Jerusalem to Berlin and the US, before arriving in Salisbury.
The paper origami birds by artist Michael Pendry have been suspended from the roof of Salisbury cathedral.
According to the creator of the piece named ‘Les Colombes’ their presence represents hope and positivity.
Les Colombes artwork is on display in Salisbury Cathedral months after former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with Novichok
The artwork has travelled around the world from Jerusalem to the US and now to Salisbury. The Cathedral is the largest space it has been given so far
The doves by Michael Pendry will be on display until July 22. They come months after two Russians were poisoned in Salisbury sparking international fury
The artwork has grown as it has travelled and the people of Salisbury are being asked to get involved in the huge piece suspended above the Cathedral’s interior
The 2,500 white origami doves fly the length of the cathedral. Community groups in Salisbury have been encouraged to write their own messages and fold their own doves
Mr Pendry said: ‘I call it an Art for Peace project, it’s about creating a more peaceful world and finding a very simple picture and symbol that everybody understands. We’re involving people with the folding of the doves and the flock is growing from place to place and country to country.’
Jacqueline Cresswell from the Cathedral told Spire FM she was looking for a First World War commemorative piece when she found the birds.
Salisbury is in need of positivity, she said, since it has made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The artwork’s installation comes just over two months since the nerve agent attack in the city and whilst the clean-up continues
Artist Michael Pendry adds a white origami dove to his art installation, Les Colombes, which is being installed at Salisbury Cathedral in Salisbury on May 10
Artist Michael Pendry’s exhibition will be up from May 10 until July 22 and is aimed at inspiring resilience, peace and hope
A reflection of the doves in Salisbury Cathedral. Instagram lovers are expected to flock to see the hundreds of paper birds suspended from the rafters
The city has become synonymous with Russian spy drama after Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia, 33, were poisoned on a park bench in March.
The former double agent and his daughter are still recovering after being exposed to military grade nerve agent Novichok.
Prime Minister Theresa May blamed President Putin’s Russia and relations between the two nations nosedived.
Doves have been hung across the length of Salisbury Cathedral to look as though they are flying along the huge building
Diplomats were expelled from both countries and the Kremlin issued furious denials of involvement.
Ms Cresswell said: ‘When I researched this, it was really to find an exhibition that would commemorate the end of the First World War and so obviously I was looking for something uplifting and peaceful.
‘It just so happens that with what’s happened in Salisbury over the last few months that this installation has taken on another meaning and we’ve made it our own.’
The artwork will be on display until July 22.