Reveal is the work of sculptor Richard Cole and grew directly from his year as Durham Cathedral artist-in-residence 1992/3. Sited on the banks of the River Wear, Reveal is formed from stone recycled from a pinnacle of the cathedral. Into these stones an aperture has been carved through which both the cathedral and the inner core of the sculpture can be seen.

 

As Cole wrote in his original proposal, "The sculpture is organized around an aperture which itself is a metaphor linking the space ‘inside’ with the space ‘outside’. As such it can be seen as an introduction to the experience of the Cathedral, specifically to the sense of surprise on entering. The light within the aperture is an introduction to the qualities of light within the cathedral itself."

Reveal was commissioned by the Chaplaincy in 1996 as a contribution to Visual Arts Year 1996 and was unveiled the following year.

The Chaplaincy gratefully acknowledges the provision of the stone by the Dean and Chapter of Durham and the financial support for this commission by the Foundation for Sport and the Arts and Durham City Arts.