Project Template - hsgleeson.xyz

Location Salisbury, UK

Year 2024

Instructor Mohamad Nahleh

Software Rhino 8 Adobe Illustrator Adobe Photoshop

Description Introduction: A critical study of Stonehenge not as a monument, but as a shifting cultural tool. This project traces the transformation of the site from a communal space of "hidden labor" and celestial harmony to a gentrified destination optimized for profit. By examining themes of militarization, commodification, and circadian rhythms, the research highlights the disconnect between ancient craftsmanship and modern industrialized production, urging a reconnection with the natural cycles that once defined human culture. Drawing 1, Militarization of The Sky: This drawing contrasts the untouched night sky of Stonehenge’s ancient era with the cluttered expanse visible today. When Stonehenge was built, the night sky served as an unmediated canvas, a vital tool for navigation, rituals, and understanding seasonal cycles. In that era, the stars were constant, unmarred by human interference. Today, the sky is overwhelmed by human-made elements—aircraft, drones, satellites, and light pollution—which obscure our view of constellations and sever our connection to the celestial bodies we once worshipped. Stonehenge’s builders likely relied on the clarity of the night for spiritual and practical purposes, while the modern world’s technological intrusion diminishes the night’s clarity and magic. This evolution of the night sky reflects a broader shift: from reverence for natural cycles to a desire for control, leaving Stonehenge’s original purpose as a cosmic and temporal guide increasingly out of reach. Drawing 2, Gentrification: Stonehenge, once a sacred gathering place for rituals and community connection, now stands as a symbol of cultural commodification. The site’s evolution from a place of spiritual significance to a curated tourist destination illustrates the gentrification of heritage. Visitor centers, gift shops, and ticketed experiences have transformed the night around Stonehenge from one of cultural introspection to commercial activity. The meticulous maintenance and managed access strip the site of its raw, ancient essence, reframing it as an object of profit rather than reverence. This shift parallels the broader societal trend of commodifying spaces of significance. Stonehenge’s night is no longer a sanctuary for stargazers or a canvas for spiritual connection; instead, it’s shaped by artificial lighting and pathways meant to control visitors’ experiences. The gentrification of this historic site challenges us to consider whether modernization inherently erodes authenticity. Drawing 3, Sleep: This timeline weaves together key historical moments for Stonehenge with global changes in sleep patterns, revealing their intertwined narratives. Stonehenge, a monument to celestial alignment, likely played a role in harmonizing human activity with natural rhythms. Before industrialization, sleep followed segmented patterns aligned with cycles of light and dark—a rhythm Stonehenge itself may have symbolized. However, industrialization and modern timekeeping fractured this connection, ushering in the rigid schedules of today. Stonehenge now exists in a world where sleep, much like labor, is treated as a commodity, subject to efficiency and control. The timeline in this drawing underscores the irony: Stonehenge, once a marker of organic time, now sits within a society disconnected from those rhythms. The shifts in sleep patterns not only reflect changing labor demands but also highlight the loss of ancient practices that once celebrated human alignment with the natural world. authenticity. Drawing 4, Sleep: This drawing examines the origins of Stonehenge’s megaliths and compares them to the materials used in its modern visitor center, highlighting the transformation of labor practices over time. The construction of Stonehenge required immense collective effort, with stones transported over vast distances through methods that remain partially mysterious. This communal labor connected people directly to the land and to one another. In contrast, the visitor center represents modern labor systems defined by industrialization and global supply chains. Its materials are sourced for efficiency and profit, often detached from their environmental and cultural origins. The section drawing juxtaposes the longevity of Stonehenge’s materials with the disposable, less renewable nature of the visitor center, critiquing the impermanence of contemporary construction practices. By examining this contrast, the drawing invites reflection on how labor has evolved from being a shared cultural endeavor to an increasingly exploitative and disconnected process. authenticity.