In Built by Immigrants, Deller adapts the form of a typical British road sign from designs by Margaret Calvert and Jock Kinneir who created this signage in the 1960s to make a political point.
Frequently considered as a symbol of the nation, the artist explores Stonehenge’s relation to xenophobic nationalism within Britain. Here, by crediting immigrants with the creation of a very British icon, the artist is highlighting their importance and contribution to our society.
This work continues Deller’s fascination with Stonehenge, following the creation of an inflatable, life-sized replica called Sacrilege, first installed on Glasgow Green in 2012. This work was part of that year’s Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art. This takes place every two years to celebrate contemporary art in Glasgow.
This piece links to the artist’s 2019 project Wiltshire Before Christ which was a collaboration between Deller, photographer David Sims and Aries’ Sofia Pantera. This project explored the notions of mysticism, pagan symbolism and British identity.