‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ is a work of art commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of World War I. It consists of 888,246 ceramic red poppies, placed in the moat of the Tower of London. The artist is Paul Cummins and the title is taken from the beginning of a poem by an unknown World War I solider. The number is an estimate of the total number of members of the British and Colonial armed forces who lost their lives in World War I. Every poppy has been purchased by a member of the public, in aid of various service charities, including the British Legion.
The poppies were unveiled to the public on 5th August 2014 and by 11th November 2014, Armistice Day, it is expected that over four million visitors will have viewed them. It was intended that the removal of the work of art would commence on 12th November 2014, but due to public demand, parts of the display (The Weeping Window and Wave segments) will remain until the end of November and then the poppies will go on a U.K. tour until 2018, before being permanently exhibited at the Imperial War Museum.