2100 Illuminated Handcrafted Daffodils Represent the Light a Nurse Brings to a Terminally Ill Patient

I love installations like this. Ones that aren’t just beautiful to look at, but ones that have a deeper meaning behind them. The “Garden of Light” consists of 2,100 illuminated handcrafted daffodils which each represent a Marie Curie Nurse. The daffodils are purposely illuminated to symbolize the “light” these nurses bring to terminally ill patients during their last, most darkest days.

The immersive art installation, created by public artists Greyworld, opened to the public in London’s Paternoster Square on March 1st and can be seen through March 14th. It will travel across the country and be open to visitors in Edinburgh and Cardiff.

For those unfamiliar with Marie Curie, it is a charitable organization in the UK which provides free care and support to people with terminal illnesses and their families. It was established back in 1948. The Great Daffodil Appeal is Marie Curie’s largest annual fundraising campaign. Each March, millions of people in the UK support this fundraising event by giving a small donation to wear a daffodil pin.

Visitors to the installation are encouraged to walk through pathways amongst the flowers while hearing recordings of voices reading real-life letters sent to Marie Curie Nurses from the families of patients they’ve supported. Seeing these lit up daffodils and hearing the touching stories, I can only imagine the feelings this powerful installation conjures.