Artlyst: John Kirby, Mark Dean, William Congdon

Artlyst have just published a review of the recent exhibition by John Kirby, a piece about Mark Dean's Pastiche Mass and a feature article on the work of William Congdon and his connections with Kettle's Yard.

'Congdon first visited [Jim] Ede at Kettle’s Yard in 1966. He described the house as ‘that prayer that you live’ and regarded it as a place where ‘art may truly breathe in God.’ In the collection gathered together in the house, Congdon believed that God was giving through Ede. An exhibition of Congdon’s work was curated by Ede at Clare College Cambridge in 1968 and this year (2019) saw a second such exhibition held at Jesus College Cambridge.

Congdon: American Modernist Abroad focused on the international experience of Congdon as a tireless traveller and artist.' 

'[Mark] Dean has explained that ‘the series is based on the musical form of a Mass, which is of course in itself based on the liturgical form of the Mass (Eucharist, or Holy Communion)’:

‘The starting point was hearing Aretha Franklin’s recording of ‘Save Me’, which uses the same riff as Van Morrison’s ‘Gloria’. I made a video work combining elements of these two songs with Nina Simone’s and Patti Smith’s respective versions of them. I then proceeded to make works based on the other sections of the Mass – Kyrie, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Angus Dei.’'

'Much of Kirby’s work has been driven by the expression of repression through the stiff and secretive interiority and surreality of his images. This driven-ness has its roots in internal struggles relating to religion and sexuality. Kirby’s use of the line ‘All Passion Spent’ from Milton Samson Agonistes may suggest the private search of his characters for calm, as well as an increasing sense of personal peace.

One hopes that Kirby’s passion is not spent and that the showing of his work is not stilled as it would be fascinating to see the images that could result from the stilling of the storm in Kirby’s work and characters; to see what peace may look like on the stage that he has constructed.'

My other Artlyst articles and interviews are:

• Curating Spiritual Sensibilities In Changing Times
• Ken Currie: Protest Defeat And Victory
• Bosco Sodi: A Moment Of Genesis
• Bill Viola And The Art Of Contemplation
• Art In Churches 2018: Spiritual Combinations Explored
• Sister Wendy Beckett – A Reminiscence
• Marleen Hengelaar-Rookmaaker On The Legacy Of ArtWay
• Guido Guidi: Per Strada Flowers Gallery London
• Peter Howson Artlyst Interview
• Peter Howson: The play is over – Flowers Gallery
• Camille Henrot: Scientific History And Creation Story Mash Up
• Nicola Green Explores Recent And Contemporary Religious Leaders – St Martin-in-the-Fields
• Art And The Consequences Of War Explored In Two Exhibitions
• Helaine Blumenfeld Translating Her Vision
• Alastair Gordon A Testament To His Faith
• Sacred Noise: Explores Religion, Faith And Divinity
• Bill Viola: Quiet Contemplative Video Installation St Cuthbert’s Church Edinburgh
• The ground-breaking work of Sister Corita Kent
• Katrina Moss Chaiya Art Awards Interview: Where is God in our 21st century world?
• Picasso To Souza: The Crucifixion Imagery Rarely Exhibited
• Apocalypse Now: Michael Takeo Magruder Interviewed
• Jonathan Anderson: Religious Inspirations Behind Modernism
• Michael Takeo Magruder: De / coding the Apocalypse – Panacea Museum
• Giorgio Griffa: The Golden Ratio And Inexplicable Knowledge
• Arabella Dorman Unveils New Installation At St James Church Piccadilly
• Can Art Transform Society?
• Art Awakening Humanity Conference Report
• Central St Martins in the Fields Design Then And Now
• The Sacramental And Liturgical Nature Of Conceptual Art
• Caravan – An Interview With Rev Paul Gordon Chandler On Arts Peacebuilding
• Art Awakening Humanity Alexander de Cadenet Interviewed
• Polish Art In Britain Centenary Marked At London’s Ben Uri Gallery
• Michael Pendry New Installation Lights Up St Martin In The Fields;
• Mark Dean Projects Stations of the Cross Videos On Henry Moore Altar;
• Refugee Artists Learning from The Lives Of Others;
• The Religious Impulses Of Robert Rauschenberg;
• The Christian Science Connection Within The British Modern Art Movement;
• Artists Rebranding The Christmas Tree Tradition;
• Art Impacted - A Radical Response To Radicalisation;
• The Art of St Martin-in-the-Fields; and
• Was Caravaggio A Good Christian?

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Pēteris Vasks - Lord, Open Our Eyes.