In Arnsberg, the Spanish conceptual artist Santiago Sierra created a contemporary light installation as a reminder to modern people: for an open city, an open Europe; against exclusion of any kind. At the same time, Santiago Sierra has remeasured the urban space and identified the original city with its medieval Alter Markt and the city striving towards modernity with its classicist Neumarkt.
The conceptual artist has entitled the whole project "The Debt". The old city gates were built with immaterial debt, with immaterial debts. Hundreds of thousands of people were excluded by these city gates - especially the Jews.
"Die Lichtpforte" is related to or in contrast to these medieval city walls, which set boundaries and enabled people to be excluded. His "Gates of Light" can be admired and "overcome" by anyone.
No exclusion is possible, as the artwork consists of floor lights, unobtrusively embedded in the pavement, which trace the original city walls.
His light installation appears delicate and yet is a harsh warning from the past to modern people, a warning from history to the present.