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Rachel Mars

FORGE

Presentation

In 2014 the 100kg iron ‘welcome’ gate was stolen from Dachau concentration camp. A local blacksmith forged a replica. It was exactly like the original. And it wasn’t at all. Over the course of three days artist Rachel Mars invites you to bear witness as she welds together another copy of the ‘welcome’ gate stolen from Dachau concentration camp. A powerful durational installation with live metal work exploring who memorials are for and who decides.

Sound Designer Dinah Mullen creates a live soundtrack to this work, orchestrating an atmospheric sound-world that includes previously recorded metal work, bespoke compositions, and a library of Memorial Silences.

An act of repetition and repair FORGE asks: what does it mean to preserve a site of collective trauma?

www.rachelmars.org/

If you would like to get in touch about this work, please contact Hannah Slimmon, International Development Manager. Email:hannah@horizonshowcase.uk

A performer with dark brown curly hair is welding an iron gate. They are wearing a distressed denim shirt and a brown leather apron as well as protective goggles and gloves. Sparks are flying from their welding tool. On the iron gates stands the word "AFTER" as seen from the back in reverse on the top section. The scene is washed in a traquil pale purple shade juxtaposed against the red hot glow of the welding, which illuminates the performer and the gate.
FORGE by Rachel Mars. Image by JMA Photography.

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