At dawn on the morning of June 6th 2016, with rough architectural plans in hand, I conducted an experiment toward the design of an ephemeral memorial to the Troubles. On Donegall Place, opposite Belfast City Hall, a 1:1 scale drawing of Gate X24 (military code) was hastily marked on the ground in chalk. Concerned police officers from a nearby police station observed via security camera, then sent two officers to investigate.

One asked after a permit while the other, older officer walked over the lines on the ground quietly and remembered. He and the younger officer stopped to discuss the drawing. ‘This is where the barricades were’--‘I don’t remember them at all’--‘haven’t you seen the photographs back at the station?’--‘Yes, but that wasn’t here, so close to city hall!’-- And so their conversation continued.

Permission to complete and photo-document the prototype was granted, but more importantly the officers conversation had proven that Drawing the Ring of Steel could prompt storytelling and support transgenerational communication about the Troubles.