Filmed deep in the Cumbrian landscape on the ‘barbarian border’ between England and Scotland, The End of Civilisation features a burning grand piano, a beacon referred to by co-commissioners Locus+ as “one of the world’s great icons [that serves] as a warning and a celebration”. The film will premiere at the Tyne Theatre, itself situated on the site where Hadrian’s Wall once ran through what is now Newcastle city centre. Douglas Gordon has described Hadrian’s Wall as “under a certain interpretation, a great end of civilisation…”.
The work is the final part of the True Sprit series of commissions that has already included Fiona Banner’s Tornado (2010), the world’s largest aluminium bell, cast from a decommissioned fighter jet and situated on the Gateshead Quayside, and Cerith Wyn Evans Permit yourself…(2011), a large hanging mobile created from double sided mirror panels with text cut out of each and installed in a warehouse in one of Sunderland’s industrial quarters.
Co-commissioned by Great North Run Culture and Locus+, the series explores “the True Spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games”. The End of Civilisation will also form part of the London 2012 Festival that celebrates the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad.
Thursday 5 July 7.30pm, Friday 6 July 2.30pm and 7.30pm at the Tyne Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Free but ticketed – see Locus+ for more details.
Douglas Gordon on a-n.co.uk
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