Reconciliation, Bronze sculpture at Coventry Cathedral, United Kingdom.
Reconciliation is a bronze sculpture located in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral and depicts two life-sized figures kneeling in an embrace that conveys closeness and understanding. The figures lean toward each other and create a moving representation of human connection through their simple sculptural form.
The sculpture was created in 1977 by Josefina de Vasconcellos and drew inspiration from the story of a woman who traveled across Europe after World War II searching for her husband. This personal journey provided the emotional foundation for a work that has since become a symbol with wider meaning.
The work speaks to visitors about forgiveness and reconciliation through its simple yet powerful image of two people coming together. Those who visit often pause to reflect on what the gesture means in relation to the cathedral's own history of destruction and rebuilding.
The sculpture stands in the outdoor ruins section and can be visited at any time of day. Natural light plays across the bronze surface differently depending on when you arrive and from which angle you view the work.
The work was originally titled Reunion but was renamed in 1994 at the request of the Peace Studies Department of Bradford University. This name change deepened its connection to the message of reconciliation that the piece conveys.
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