Wreath #2 reimagines the traditional floral wreath, a symbol of remembrance, honour and mourning, through a circular arrangement of cylindrical iron mesh and sharp blades. By replacing flowers with industrial materials, the work transforms a ceremonial object of tribute into one that speaks of protection, confinement and violence. It honours the sacrifices of Indian soldiers who served in the British Army during the First and Second World Wars, remembering lives shaped by service, loss and sacrifice.

Made from thirty-one cylindrical iron mesh units held together with iron wire, each pierced by a blade, the sculpture creates a tension between healing and violence. Rising upright, the elongated mesh forms evoke silent standing figures, transforming the wreath into a collective memorial. The woven grid recalls the open weave of medical gauze bandages, turning a material associated with healing into one of restraint and defence. The exposed blades disrupt this sense of protection, suggesting that care and violence are often inseparable. Arranged in a circular form, the work reflects an ongoing cycle of remembrance, mourning and survival rather than closure. Rather than celebrating military glory, Wreath #2 stands as a quiet memorial to those who served, honouring their resilience while commemorating all whose lives have been shaped by war across time and borders.

Wreath #2 is part of Baptist Coelho’s ongoing multimedia series Wreath, which reimagines memorial traditions to reflect on remembrance, mourning and loss, and the tension between healing and violence. Wreath #2 was first exhibited as part of the artist’s solo exhibition, It still hasn’t ended at Bâtiment IV, Esch-sur-Alzette, from 30 May to 14 June 2024. The exhibition was supported by University of Luxembourg, Department of Social Sciences. Wreath #1 is also part of the series.