Eco-Stations of the Cross - with Variations
The aim was to provide a one off Installation, in one of the many ‘new development’ sites in Exeter. This site is just outside the city wall, by the old Quay, and on a hill, so seemed a perfect site for an Eco-stations of the Cross, which was installed 5.am Easter Sunday - the time for the traditional first Eucharist of Easter. The pictures are here in reverse order.
Installation was ‘removed’ in 24 hours (that is broken up by Land Securities ‘security’ guards, who then neglected to remove the broken withies) . All save the Anarchy sign, which was strangely missed . Not a bad result for a bank holiday,..
No 11: The preparing the body for Burial. Only ground resting piece. The aim is to capture the strange brittle focus of grief, which is at once all consuming, and yet strangely out of place and vulnerable.
No 12: Christ Risen. This piece is 1m or so tall, and free standing. The aim is to show Christ as the word, having left the cross (or a bound sphere of events) and off to preach a message in the world. It marks the point a living presence becomes an empirical principle.
No 9: Games of Chance and death. The reference is to the Soldiers gambling over Christ’s clothes. They thereby lose sight of the world collapsing around them, in the delight of a game of chance - a game we all can join...
No 10: Death of Christ. The Devil rides high, appropriately enough with a tasteless modern development in the background.
No 8: Companions in Death. The Reference is to the two thieves. One of whom forms a tear, as he pities Christ, the other, becomes yet another pin (or mote) jabbed or nailed in the eye. The aim is to capture something of the power of a mob, which can even sweep up humans in extremis, in its unreasoning demands. The original is therefore big (Im across...). The thief who taunted Christ interestingly enough survived the actions of the Land Securities guards.
No 7: Every-man. Reference is to Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross. He is therefore being portrayed as everyman (hence the pentacles in the background). The point being that seismic events (whatever they are) are one’s which one cannot stand apart from.
No 6: The Scourging of Chirst. Skeletal withy hand holds a dogwood whip. dedicated to oppressors everywhere..
appropriately enough perhaps, the hand grasping the scourge survived the attentions of the ‘security’ guards.
No 5: Chariot Wheel. The reference here is Christ’s condemnation by the high priest. Link is somewhat obscure. The piece is of a chariot wheel, with bloody Boudiccea knife. The piece is inspired by the tarot, where the chariot represents authority under authority - which is surely the position of a high priest. A position that repeatedly creates individuals who do not care for the consequences of their own actions... The wheel is that of fortune, that is of events which never come off as one plans.
All pieces made from Willow and Dogwood. String was only used to attach the works to the railings.
No 4: The Bowl. Pilate washing his hands of the affair. The piece is a bowl whose basic shape is made of dogwood and withy, and whose sides are weaved with dried bay. Bay is of course the real Laurel Bow. Pilate, is therefore in his desire for the usual trappings of power, ignoring the real issue...
No 3: The Arrest. Piece is of the ear which Peter cut off the temple official (and which was mended by Christ). Piece has Mistletoe weaved onto it. The reference is to the odd power of certain messages, which are heard however one struggles to block one’s ears (or the ears of others)
No 2 The Agony in the Garden. Tree made of red and green, is the silent withering witness of fear (and grief to come).
No 1: It all started with a feast, which was not quite as it seemed to be, caught up as it was in a drama of betrayal and memory.