PRIMA MATERIA
In alchemy and philosophy prima materia is the ubiquitous starting material required for the alchemical magnum opus and the creation of the philosopher's stone. It is the primitive formless base of all matter similar to chaos, the quintessence or aether. The "prima materia" relates to “everything, to male and female, to the hermaphroditic monster, to heaven and earth, to body and spirit, chaos, microcosm, and the confused mass; it contains in itself all colors and potentially all metals; there is nothing more wonderful in the world, for it begets itself, conceives itself, and gives birth to itself”. [Theatrum Chemicum - 1652].
Realised with the help of:
Prima Materia 2023
8 minute projection loop
Audio by Jerome Lyons
Projected onto 190cm steelring
I AM THE WIND
During my extensive research into the mystical experience, I noted that people interviewed used language of intense power and deep emotion; language that was evocative of a profound yearning. These words, phrases and literary fragments I have been using in this moving image art work.
‘I am the Wind’ also plays with the late 19th century idea of ‘ectoplasm’. Ectoplasm is said to be formed by a medium in a state of trance while communicating with spirits. The fog-like substance is excreted from the medium's body and spiritual entities are said to drape it around their nonphysical body, enabling them to interact in the here and now.
Realised with the help of a Guildhouse Catapult mentorship 2021.
‘I am the Wind’ 2021
Word Fragments by
Amergin Glangel (date unknown) and Genesis 1:2
Single-channel HD video, 1080p
Audio by Samuel Cook
4 minute loop
Visitors of the Night
2017
Duration 6:55 minutes
The video work Visitors of the Night are of unidentifiable moving beings, which may walk amongst us. They could be beings from another time or perhaps another place finding themselves in the present contemplating the surrounding scene. The video will remind the viewer that underneath the glamour of the present may lurk a hidden dimension of which we are not aware in our day-to-day life.
Float
2016
Unidentifiable figure floating through space towards an undefined future.
Duration 2:25 minutes
Sinlist
2015
Duration 15 minutes
List of sins sourced from various religious groups in no particular order.