Last week, Durham Cathedral opened its landmark summer exhibition Magna Carta and the North, with a powerful new light-based artwork, The Words That Bind Us, taking centre stage in the Cathedral’s Nave.

Commissioned specially for the exhibition, this immersive installation by contemporary artist Nicola Anthony transforms the historic space into a river of light and language. Projected text, drawn from the Magna Cartas in the Durham Cathedral collection and crowdsourced from local communities, shimmers across the floor, shifting and rippling as visitors move through it. The result is a living, poetic experience that invites reflection on justice, democracy, and the values that bind us together.

British-Indian contemporary sculptor Nicola Anthony says,

“The Words That Bind Us is a conversation across centuries – rooted in the ideals of the Magna Carta and shaped by the voices of today. It’s a living river of light and language, inviting visitors to reflect on justice, compassion, and community. I hope people leave with a deepened connection to this sacred space, and a sense of belonging to something larger: a shared, evolving vision for a more equitable future – a powerful, ongoing conversation about social justice.”

Developed through a series of workshops with local community groups and members of the public through an online portal, The Words That Bind Us is a collective vision of fairness and hope. During the exhibition, which runs until 2 November, visitors can select words or phrases that resonate with them most, which then grow in size in real-time as part of the projection, creating a living, ever-changing Modern Charter.

It forms part of a wider programme of contemporary installations responding to the themes of Magna Carta, including large-scale voiles by artist and photographer Ash Mills, suspended between the columns of the Cathedral’s West End and Galilee Chapel. These vibrant, stained-glass-inspired illustrations tell the story and influence of Magna Carta through a contemporary lens, echoing the grandeur of medieval storytelling.

Andrew Usher, Chief Officer: Visitor Experience and Enterprise says,

“Ash’s work brings a visual richness to the exhibition. It invites visitors to look up and reflect on how the ideals of Magna Carta continue to shape our world.”

The exhibition also features a rare opportunity to view three issues of Magna Carta and three Charters of the Forest, from the Durham Cathedral collection displayed together for the first time in eight years. Celebrating the 800th anniversary of the 1225 issue of Magna Carta, alongside the immersive art installations, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to reflect on timeless values such as accountability of leaders, protection of the vulnerable and equality.

Visitors can see up close the only surviving 1216 Magna Carta, along with issues from 1225 and 1300, and three Forest Charters – practical documents granting access to land and natural resources, all on display in the Durham Cathedral Museum.

Magna Carta and the North will be on display from 11 July to 2 November 2025. There is no admission charge to enter the cathedral or to see the artworks on the cathedral floor, although donations are welcome. The Magna Carta documents will be on display in Durham Cathedral Museum and will cost £7.50 for adults and is free for under 18s.