Hadrian’s Wall as Artscape

Hingley, Richard

Abstract

This paper draws upon the concept of “artscape”, a term adopted in studies of contemporary urban and borderland contexts. Nine artworks sited along Hadrian's Wall form the case studies. These interventions aim to challenge the traditional concept of Hadrian's Wall as a fixed and well-defined ancient monument set within an unchanging landscape. Many of the projects reflect, directly or indirectly, upon the ethics of contemporary bordering practices. The artworks may have succeeded, at least to a degree, in challenging people's understandings of the current significance of the Wall by encouraging local people and visitors to contemplate the constraining characteristics of modern borders and frontiers. However, the communication of Hadrian's Wall as “open to all” elides ethical issues and the paper explores the extent to which these artworks may have encouraged or provoked public responses.

Citation

Hingley, R. (2023). Hadrian’s Wall as Artscape. Journal of Borderlands Studies, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/08865655.2023.2292117

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 14, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 14, 2023
• Publication Date: Dec 14, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jan 23, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 23, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Borderlands Studies
• Print ISSN: 0886-5655
• Electronic ISSN: 2159-1229
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 1-20
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08865655.2023.2292117
• Keywords: Law; Political Science and International Relations; Sociology and Political Science; Geography, Planning and Development
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2162160