Filenews 18 August 2022
Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification in the Roman province of Britain the construction of the approximately 117.5 km long fortification began in 112 AD and was the northernmost border of the Roman Empire.
To celebrate the 1,900th anniversary of the start of the works, English Heritage commissioned an installation by artist Morag Meyerskaff: the pavilion with a height of 8.5 meters and a width of 12.5 meters, which goes by the name of "The Future Belongs To What Was As Much As What Is" is an all-colour interpretation of the original gate in the Roman fort now known as Housesteads Roman Fort.
"Hadrian's Wall is one of England's most iconic landmarks, and to mark its anniversary we wanted a meaningful way to connect the world of 2022 with 122 AD," said Kate Mavor, chief executive of English Heritage. "We hope that placing such a courageous contemporary art installation in this ancient landscape will not only capture the imagination of the world but will perhaps also challenge their ideas about why this wall existed. Not only as a means of keeping people out but a border that people could cross; and they did," he added.
The reinterpreted gate was constructed from a scaffolding which was covered with colourful panels designed by Meyerskaff. Guests have the opportunity to climb onto the facility to enjoy the view. The panels were designed to act as a contrast to the surrounding landscape and are references to archaeological finds in the area which are on display at the Chesters Roman Fort museum in Northumberland.
"As soon as I saw Housesteads and started walking around the fort, I was overwhelmed by the feeling that I wanted to do an installation there," the artist confessed. "I stood on the ruins of the north gate and looked into the wilderness that seems unchanged since Roman times and immediately knew this is the place."
The words on the panels were selected in collaboration with poet Ellen Moran and members of the local community.
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