26 Sep Beau Stanton: ‘Tenebras Lux’ in progress
Beau Stanton is in Bristol right now for an exciting new body of work titled ‘Tenebras Lux’; inspired by the imagery and techniques found in sacred spaces.
Stained glass windows, elaborate oil paintings, and ornamented sacred objects create an immersive experience that references medieval art forms, ancient and modern religious iconography, and fetishized holy relics. Originally installed as a temporary site-specific installation within the Crypt of Saint John the Baptist in Bristol, these works re-imagine their original sacred function to inform the way we view the development of religious icons and enduring archetypes.
While creating the work, Stanton employed classical, medieval, and 19th Century techniques alongside contemporary digital media achieving unconventional results within the vaulted crypt and tomb niches. This calculated manipulation of light and shadow results in vividly illuminated images achieved through panes of tinted glass as well as delicate layers of transparent paint film.
These works are carefully concocted amalgamations that fuse archetypal symbols with familiar imagery from Classical Antiquity and Christian theology. The result is a visual orgy of light and ornament contrasting natural organic forms of ancient mythology with the macabre and grotesque images of martyred Christian icons.
The show will open to the public daily from Friday, September 26 – Sunday, October 5, 2014; 10:30 – 18:30.
Location: The Crypt of St John the Baptist, Quay Street, Bristol, BS1 2EZ.