To commemorate the centennial of Britain’s involvement in the First World War, ceramic artist Paul Cummins and stage designer Tom Piper conceived of a staggering installation of ceramic poppies planted in the famous dry moat around the Tower of London. Titled “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red,” the final work will consist of 888,246 red ceramic flowers—each representing a British or Colonial military fatality—that flow through grounds around the tower.

The tail of a stranded whale is pictured on the beach of De Haan, Belgium on October 25, 2018. (Photo by Francois Lenoi/Reuters)

Sonny Colbrelli of Italy celebrates winning the men's Paris Roubaix, a 258 kilometer (160.3 miles) one-day-race cycling race, at the velodrome in Roubaix, northern France, Sunday, October 3, 2021. (Photo by Vincent Kalut/Pool Photo via AP Photo)

Australian professional boxer Ebanie Bridges after her fight against Shannon Courtenay during the WBA World Bantamweight Title match at Copperbox Arena in London, Britain on April 10, 2021. (Photo by Andrew Couldridge/Action Images via Reuters)

A Mexican soldier burns coca plants in the mountainous area of Atoyac de Alvarez, Guerrero state, Mexico, on February 15, 2023. (Photo by Francisco Robles/AFP Photo)

Richard Rude Junior of the United States, competes on his way to win the UCI MTB Enduro Men Elite, Mountain Bike World Championship, Monday, September 1, 2025, in Fiesch, Switzerland. (Photo by Maxime Schmid/Keystone via AP Photo)

Andrew Hepher, Vice President of Lubricants Technology, Shell unveils the Shell Concept Car in Beijing, China, Friday, April 22, 2016. Built as proof of energy efficiency that can be achieved with the latest technologies, Shell unveiled the concept car ahead of the bi-annual Beijing Auto Show where the world's top car manufacturers will showcase their own upcoming products. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

Boxer Tommy Fury is pictured during a weight measurement, a day ahead of a match against Jake Paul (not pictured) in Riyadh, on February 25, 2023. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine/AFP Photo)