ART-FELT PIECE ON SHOW IN SALFORD

The seated figure – titled The History of a Broken Man – will be on display until October before moving to the Museum of the Mind in south London for an exhibition until February 2018. 

It’s been created through Bravo 22 Company, the  Royal British Legion's recovery through the arts programme for the armed forces community. 

The 12 men and women took part in a month of sculpture workshops to produce life-size pieces, each one expressing something about each individual and where they are on their own particular journey or recovery.

The History of a Broken Man was created by former soldier Graham Limb from Haslingden, who served in Bosnia and saw his closest friend shot. He became a firefighter in 2005 but a traumatic incident that ended this career triggered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from his military days and led him to attempt suicide.

Therapy and joining Veterans in communities, a military and emergency services charity helped him rebuild his life and got him involved in art.

Graham said: “My sculpture is based on a series of works I’ve made under the title History of a Broken Man. This has included a poem, a video and a painting.

“My sculpture shows me feeling broken, sitting with my head in my hands, hood up, not being able to take any more of what’s going on in my head. Inside are representations of myself of old – a proud soldier, a fire fighter, me trying to comfort myself and wake me up to what I’ve achieved and where I am now.“

Councillor Barry Warner and Councillor Margaret Morris, Salford’s Arrmed Forces Champions welcomed the sculpture. 

Councillor Morris said: "Art can be a powerful tool to soothe the mind and help people recover. I’m delighted to host this moving piece of sculpture to say thank you and show our support for all our brave servicemen and women."

Professional sculptor Al Johnson worked with the group. She said: “Each of the sculptures is unique to its creator and tells a different story of recovery; from a painful memory to worries about civilian life or injuries that can’t be physically seen.”

The Bethlem Museum of the Mind, which opened in 2015,  records the lives and experiences and celebrates the achievements of people with mental health problems. It shares the grounds of the Bethlem RoyalHospital, founded in 1247 as the first institution in the UK to specialise in the care of the mentally ill, which still provides in patient care.