The Words that Bind Us

Durham Cathedral’s majestic nave is transformed by The Words That Bind Us, a monumental light projection text sculpture by international artist Nicola Anthony. With over 20,000 visitors to date, the artwork has been gathering public opinions and inputs to project an interactive, immersive vision for a more compassionate world.

Commissioned as part of Magna Carta and the North — a record-breaking exhibition that has seen over double the amount of Museum visitors from the previous year — The Words That Bind Us is a living, responsive artwork. Using bespoke software developed in collaboration with Novak UK, it transforms visitor submissions into an evolving constellation of light, activated by visitor’s inputs, choices, footsteps and shadows.

A new companion book has been published which documents the artistic journey from sketchbook to projection. It includes contributions from public workshops, behind-the-scenes images, high resolution scans of the Magna Carta, and reflections on embedding contemporary art within a sacred, historic setting. The book can be purchased at https://www.nicolaanthony.co.uk/shop/the-words-that-bind-us-special-edition-of-200-books