Magna Carta (An Embroidery) is a major new artwork by the acclaimed British artist Cornelia Parker that celebrates the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta in 2015. Fabricated by many hands, from prisoners and lawyers to artists and barons, it replicates in stitch the entire Wikipedia article on Magna Carta as it appeared on the document’s 799th anniversary and is nearly thirteen metres long.

Accompanying the Library’s major exhibition Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy, the new artwork is a ‘snapshot of where the debate is right now,’ explains Parker. ‘Echoing the communal activity that resulted in the Bayeux Tapestry, but on this occasion placing more emphasis on the word rather than the image, I wanted to create an artwork that is a contemporary interpretation of Magna Carta.’

The exhibition is accompanied by three events, including a discussion between Cornelia Parker, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and the British Library’s chief executive Roly Keating exploring the ideas behind Magna Carta (An Embroidery).