They are 50,000 strong and turn up in the strangest of places: miniscule Blue Helmets. These toy soldiers created by Dutch artist Pierre Derks are taking the world by storm.

Two years ago Mr Derks got the idea to put Blue Helmets in the spotlight. Each year, 120,000 UN peacekeepers are deployed across the world.

“The plan was to buy a large number of toy soldiers, paint their helmets blue and send them everywhere,” the artist says.

Toys and militarism
The toys were sent from The Hague, home of the Peace Palace, to destinations across the world. Attached to each soldier was a note asking the finder to take a photograph.

The Miniscule Blue Helmets on a Massive Quest project has proven successful. Many people have contributed to the global work of art. New photographs appear each day.

The unusual combination of toys and militarism speaks to them. “They feel it is a suitable way of focussing attention on the many conflicts in the world,” Mr Derks says.

Waiting for Mladic
Two miniature Blue Helmets stand guard outside the Scheveningen prison near The Hague, waiting for Ratko Mladic to arrive.

Nostalgia also plays a role, says the artist. “We all used to wage war with tin or plastic soldiers when we were young."

Mr Derks' book, named after the project, presents a selection of the best 500 photographs from the website www.minibluehelmets.com. According to him, over one thousand photographs have been posted on the site.

(gsh/kh)