The Grail

The Grail (2011)
plastic glass, bioresin, mooncup

This mooncup has been donated by Mooncup Ltd.
http://www.mooncup.co.uk/

Photo by: David Olsan
http://davidolsanphotography.com/

‘The great non-Christian legend of the Middle Ages was that of the Quest of the Grail. The Christian knights of King Arthur’s table were tormented by a vision of the cup used at the Last Supper that contained blood from the wounds of the crucified Jesus. Only the pure knight without stain, Parsifal, was admitted into the Grail Castle where the genitally maimed Fisher King sat awaiting the question that would bring life back into the Wasteland. Parsifal watched the show of knights and maidens carrying the last dripping blood into the cup of the Grail, and he was thunderstruck. He was speechless. Being speechless, he did not ask the question that would have redeemed the Wasteland. He showed no curiosity. The show came and went - and the Castle vanished. Parsifal had failed.’ (Penelope Shuttle & Peter Redgrove, p.190, The Wise Wound)

In order to understand The Grail we have to answer the following three questions:

1. Whom does the Grail serve?

2. The world is in the Grail and the Grail is in the world: what is the Grail?

3. Where is the Grail Castle, that is surrounded with water, that is everywhere at once, and which is invisible?

The mooncup that is contained in this artwork gives a clue to these questions.

Private View at Richmix on 25/02/2011

The Remains of the Child (2010)

mixed media

45 (h) x 45 (d) x 72 (l) cm

I am pleased to invite you to my next private view at:

RICH MIX
35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA
www.richmix.org.uk

on 25/02/2011, 6-7.30pm.

This is a group exhibition entitled 'East End Blend'. It is a cooperation between the University of East London, the Whitechapel Gallery, RICH MIX and London Metropolitan University.

For more details please click here.

Here Lies ART! - exhibition photos

'The Remains of the Child' (2010)

'The Remains of the Child' (2010)

'The Remains of the Child' (2010)

I took these three photos today.

Thankfully, the weather has been on our side so far and we have had a sunny day.

I have had very mixed comments for this piece. The funniest was from a man who seemingly inspected it from all angles. Not knowing that I was the artist he said, 'I don't know what it is but it is ugly.' Then he looked at the other pieces. But later on I noticed that he stood in front of it again and had another good look. I presume he is still trying to figure it out, which is a good thing.

There were other people who liked it even though they found it disturbing or maybe because of it. It is interesting for me to watch people's reactions.

All comments are welcome.

Here Lies ART! 18-19 September 2010

The Remains of the Child (2010)

mixed media

45 (h) x 45 (d) x 72 (l) cm

A public art exhibition of Victorian Funeral Traditions

in the Anglican chapel at

Nunhead cemetery

Linden Grove

London SE15 3LW

Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th September 2010

11am-5pm

www.fonc.org.uk

Most people associate Victorian funerals with the colour black – mourning dresses, hats, gloves etc. It is less widely known that the colour white - white crape looped with white ribbon - was appropriate when a child or young person had passed away.

Black feathers were a typical accessory for a funeral at the time. But mourning symbols in 19th century Victorian America, for instance, included jewellery made of the hair of the deceased. They acted as memorabilia.

For this exhibition Désirée felt compelled to base her work on those Victorian funeral customs that are less commonly known. She chose to use the colour white instead of black and hair instead of feathers.

This artwork represents the mortal remains of a child. It may refer to an actual young person or be symbolic for everyone's own inner child - may it be a wounded, sad, happy or a prodigy child. It is about the purity of the soul shining through at a young age. By mourning such soulfulness, one regains it.

Cork Street Open Exhibition 2010 - 5-13/08/2010

The 2010 Cork Street Open Exhibition for Charity will take place from Thursday, 5th through Friday, 13th August 2010.

Venue:
The Gallery in Cork Street
28 Cork Street,
London W1S 3NG

The opening times for the Cork Street Open Exhibition are from 10am to 6pm, Thursday August 5-13th, with the exception of Sunday, August 8th when it is closed.

Admission is free and a percentage of all sales goes directly to CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA.

Please click here to see my work on the Cork Street Open Exhibition website.

Please click here if you would like to get complimentary tickets for the Artist's Receptions on 11th August 2010.

Shortlisted for Cork Street Open Exhibition 2010

Acute Awareness (2010)
wood, correx, latex, varnish
131 x 42.5 x 6 cm

Acute Awareness has been shortlisted for the Cork Street Open Exhibition 2010.

For details please click here.

www.corkstreetopenexhibition.com