In Arnsberg, 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 remeasured the urban space and identified the original city with its medieval Old Market and the city striving towards modernity with its classicist New Market.
The conceptual artist titled the whole thing "The Debt". The old city gates were built with immaterial debt, with immaterial debts. Hundreds of thousands of people were excluded by means of these city gates - especially the Jews.
"The Lichtpforte" is in reference to or in contrast to these medieval city walls that set boundaries for people and made exclusion possible. His "Lichtpforte" can be marveled at and 'overcome' by anyone.
No exclusion is possible because the artwork is ground lights, unobtrusively embedded in the pavement, tracing 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.