St Machar's Cathedral will be displaying artwork "The Cathedral Body" by Banff artist Carla Angus from February 23 till March 20, opening times: Monday to Saturday 10.00-16.00 Sunday 14.00-17.00
The Launch Event is scheduled for Wednesday, February 25, at 6 pm. This is your chance to meet the artist and to hear Carla talk about her project with drinks and nibbles.
We are delighted to be able to display this sculptural work at the Cathedral, supporting a local artist and providing a rich thought-provoking experience for visitors over the next few weeks,” Katherine Williams, Education Officer.
The Artwork - THE CATHEDRAL BODY
Originally commissioned by A+E, the art and ecology programme at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral Edinburgh, this sculptural piece is on temporary display in the north aisle of St Machar’s Cathedral for three weeks.
It is a response to the myriad networks that thread through, and radiate outwards from, an eminent historical public building. Conceived as an intimate, conversation space that invites you sit and pause inside, the work manifests as a complex interweaving of line through space.
It evolved through an intermittent research project over two years, mapping the visible and invisible qualities of St Mary’s Cathedral via historical documents, drawing, sound recordings, photography and conversation. What emerged was an overarching theme of communication; connections built on memory but consistently in flux.
From endless archived paper documents to flighty digital messaging, sprawling electrical hardware to underground plant root networks, to words spoken and sung, the venue is a site of continuous knitting and re-knotting of communication. The Cathedral Body is a map of these networks, a version of an historic public building stripped of its stone exoskeleton. A flexible, organic fascia that speaks to the strength of multiple connections between ourselves and our environment, whatever and wherever that may be.
The artist - CARLA ANGUS
Carla has a research-based art practice driven by stories of heritage, place and artefact, creating work that responds directly to objects and buildings. She pursues her own version of deep mapping (taking a multi-layered approach to exploring a subject), and object-biography (the stories embodied within artefacts) as ways to understand and recontextualize history within contemporary society. Her work is thoughtful and conversational, highlighting connections between things that may be otherwise hidden. These links decide what materials are ultimately used so that the senses, imagination and intellect all come into play when viewing her work. She enjoys creating pieces that audiences can interact with or view in the round. Carla also has a rich and varied background in cultural development.
Since 2004, she has been instrumental in fostering creative practice and building connections between freelance practitioners and communities across Northeast Scotland. Within this work she strives to promote creative thinking and activity as a means to support wellbeing. Originally from London, Carla has lived in rural Aberdeenshire for over 20 years. She holds a Masters in Fine Art from Gray's School of Art Aberdeen
Visitor comments in Edinburgh:
“A beautiful reflective piece, poignant and thought-provoking”
“Fascinating correlation of thoughts, images, senses and interpretation of community and fellowship”
“A recognition of the interconnectedness of all life”