Stortford artist Nicola Anthony’s installation at Durham Cathedral commemorates Magna Carta
Bishop’s Stortford artist Nicola Anthony’s latest installation will be unveiled in the nave of Durham Cathedral.
The new light-based artwork has been shaped by hundreds of contributions from people across the world, reflecting on justice, equality, compassion and hope.
Nicola described the installation, called The Words That Bind Us, as a “living artwork formed from these voices: a glowing river of projected text and imagery flowing through the cathedral”.
It was inspired by the spirit of the Magna Carta – the royal charter of rights agreed to by King John at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215 – and what it means to build a fairer society today.
From July 11, three rare Magna Cartas will go on display in the cathedral’s museum to mark the 810th anniversary. Alongside, three artists have been commissioned to create bespoke temporary installations.
Nicola said: “To create this artwork, I’ve had the privilege of working with communities across Durham and beyond, gathering fragments of wisdom, poetry, protest and prayer. On July 11, we’ll celebrate its opening.
“I am grateful to be working in collaboration with North East innovative creative studio NOVAK to build the technology which will bring the ‘river of words’ to life.”
Nicola grew up in Cheshunt, where she attended Goffs School (now Goffs Academy) before moving on to study at the University of the Arts London and then Loughborough University in Leicestershire.
There, her degree exhibition showcase was sponsored by Tate Britain, and she won the AstraZeneca Commission 2006 on graduation.
She moved to Bishop’s Stortford in 2022 and built a studio at the bottom of her garden.
Nicola’s work can be seen all over the world. One of her sculptures, featuring the story of a Holocaust survivor, was commissioned for Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles.
A stainless steel, Irish language text sculpture of starlings with words by poet Louis de Paor, focusing on the themes of crowds and swarms, isolation and loneliness, migration, Irish language, borders, barriers and feeling alone, graces the O’Donoghue Centre in the University of Galway.
Her largest piece ever – a light projection artwork – emblazoned the 100m (328ft) tall Liverpool Cathedral.
