Ismantorp fort is one of Sweden's best preserved ringforts. The ancient monument is located on the island of Öland, in the midst of the forest Mittlandsskogen. For centuries the fort has been overgrown. Dating back to the 17th century, efforts have been made to depict the fort, but these attempts were often thwarted by dense vegetation, obscuring the ruins and making them inaccessible. The surrounding forest has kept the fort itself intact, as well as the memory of it, while at the same playing a part in distorting and shaping the public's perception of the monument; through the production and reproduction of plans and depictions drawn from incorrect measurements due to the obscuring vegetation. Archival records - descriptive texts, photographs, plans, drawings - document the site and the activities of archaeologists, antiquarians, scientists, public servants, land owners, locals, tourists (and vandals). Many of these records can be found at the Swedish National Heritage Board. The National Heritage Board was responsible for managing Ismantorp fort for a period of time up until 2015 when the National Property Board took over. In this exposition, Nature plays the part of preserving the memory of the fort, as well as distorting the perception of the fort. In addition to this, the vegetation seems to have been perceived as a growing threat against the preservation of the ringfort. This villainizing of nature also poses questions regarding what constitutes a place, is it first and foremost understood as Nature, or Culture? Which agents have the right to alter a place, and how are these alterations being justified? What does it mean to "restore" a monument or a place to its original state? The research presented in this exposition is also part of a project outside of Research Catalogue, where these questions are examined through the creation of physical artworks. Some of the artworks are presented as part of the exposition.
