Truro Cathedral has gone into partnership with local art gallery Vitreous Contemporary Art to put on two linked art exhibitions, called 'Second Nature' featuring the work of eight contemporary artists working in Cornwall.
The main venue will be Truro Cathedral, from September 22 - 30 where much of the immense space will be given over to the show. More than one side-chapel will be used, as well as the nave, to help reflect on the year's theme of 'climate change'. The artists involved all have an interest in video art, or eco-art or both, and they will seek through their work to bring challenging new representations of the natural world into the cathedral. These images will include a chough, rendered in negative colour so it looks like a dove, flying high in the eaves of one of the aisles. There will also be a film shot underwater inside a wave, playing on multiple monitors in the nave.
These images of nature, though largely abstract and elemental, will carry messages, political, spiritual and moral, that are highly relevant to today.
Engaging with contemporary concerns using a contemporary medium is important to the artists involved, but so too is the opportunity to do this in a place of reflection and spiritual contemplation, such as the Cathedral. The artists are also conscious of the place of the cathedral in the life of the culture of Cornwall, both as a symbol and as a venue for events.
Themes from the main exhibition will be developed further in a tie-in show at the nearby Vitreous Contemporary Art, in Truro, where the same 8 artists will show companion pieces from September 22 to October 13.
The exhibition has evolved over several months in discussion with senior cathedral staff in association with Vitreous and the new on-line art journal for Cornwall: www.artcornwall.org.
Philip Lambert, Canon Missioner at the Cathedral said: "This exhibition is part of our ongoing exploration of climate change issues. It takes its lead from the work we have been doing to help provide information, discuss personal responses and showcase the activity of local organisations and businesses. Earlier in the year our Lent Lecture series and follow-up discussions attracted large audiences while a recent report from the Carbon Trust into the Cathedral's energy usage is shortly to be implemented. We think God's creation is for everyone, but it is also everyone's responsibility to look after that creation.
The Cathedral's role in all of this, is to try and get that particular message across in as many different ways as it can, including in this instance, through the use of contemporary art. The Church has always had a close link with the art world. Many of the great works of art were either created for religious buildings or took their inspiration from religious themes.
The Cathedral itself has two very modern pieces. The four Craigie Aitchison pictures that make up the Crucifixion scene and a modern altar made by local craftsman, Toby Roskilly, adorn St Margaret's Chapel. People have a wide variety of opinion about them, some like them, some don't. What is certain is that they undoubtedly provoke debate and conversation.
It is through that kind of engagement that contemporary art has a role in helping people to think about issues such as global warming and climate change. We hope that this exhibition will help provoke that debate and conversation."
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