Lesley Wood

I was allocated a section of the wall north of Corbridge, Including the Onnum fort. My first visit Established that there are few surfaces remains in this section, although the landscape shows evidence of history in an old quarry and the usual mounds and ditches, including the Vallum. I did, however identify two small upright stones near the site of the Onnum fort, which I have assumed were gateposts.

I planned another visit to make a paper cast of the vertical surface of one of the stones using layers of toilet paper, applied to the surface, wetted and pushed into the crevices with a stiff brush. Fortunately the weather was dry and warm so the cast ( or ‘ flong’ , to use an old print term) worked first time. The result is a precise reverse cast of the stone, some material ( lichen, dirt) Sticking to the surface.

Whilst driving to the site I noticed a field in the near distance bright-red with poppies. I decided to incorporate the flowers in the piece, having been thinking about the wall as a marker of territory and potential site of conflict. I got access to the poppy field remarkable easily so gathered a few flowers and pressed them between layers of paper as quickly as possible.

After pressing, the petals turned a darker colour, pale purple, but were quite resilient so I painted a layer of diluted PVA glue across the ‘flong’ and stuck on a line of dried petals. The piece has been trimmed to size and is a precise replica of a section of the gatepost, which has survived 1900 years.

Poppies flower year after year as the stone stands witness. Stone and flowers are presented together as a reminder of life, death, continuity beyond the human, and symbolic of conflict over this beautiful land. Reduced to territory.