Experiencing the Roman Empire Through "The Future Belongs To What Was"

In the year 2022, Hadrian Wall celebrated its 1,900th heyday through a contemporary art installation by artist Morag Myerscough, which interprets the Roman gate at Housesteads Roman Fort – one of Britain's historic sites. Located on a steep slope in the World Heritage Site, Hadrian Wall, Housesteads Roman Fort brings the experience back to the Roman Empire.

(Morag Myerscough has created a colorful gate to celebrate the heyday of Hadrian Wall)

"Hadrian's Wall is one of the UK's most iconic landmarks and to mark its anniversary, we wanted a meaningful way to connect people of 2022 back to 122 AD," said British Heritage chief executive Kate Mavor.

(The art installation stood on the site of a former Roman gate)

The installation entitled "The Future Belongs To What Was As Much As What What Is" stands on the site of a Roman gate that was built in 122 AD. Morag Myerscough designed and formed this installation with a scale of 1:1. In other words, this art installation is designed with a shape and size that resembles a Roman gate in the past.

(This installation replicates the original size of the Roman gate)

The 8.5-meter-high and 12.5-meter-wide structure was built using scaffolding and covered with brightly colored wood panels with ransom design and geometric design painted directly by Morag Myerscough. Overall, the wood panels are inspired by some of the artifacts found in the museum of the Roman Fortress of Chesters.

(This art installation is pared with colorful panels)

The installation of "The Future Belongs To What Was As Much As What Is" seems to invite us to re-imagine the Roman gate of its heyday.  With the pinnacle of the installation accessible to visitors, Myerscough wants to bring a deeper feeling to the past by looking at landscapes that have not changed for more than 1,600 years.

(Art installations built using scalffoding)

(At the top of the installation, visitors can see stunning natural scenery)

(This installation stands beside the Hadrian Wall)