Nature Morte: A brush with death

My latest exhibition review for Church Times reflects on Nature Morte, a touring exhibition by MOCA London which is currently at the Guildhall Art Gallery:

'Can an exhibition change our understanding of what it means to be human? “Nature Morte” is an exhibition that essentially makes that claim, as it invites us to pause and look anew at the human condition.

The exhibition explores the chang­­ing significance of the still life (or nature morte in French) by bringing together historic still-life paintings and contemporary art­­works ...

“Nature Morte” can make the claim that still life is life-changing because the genre has never involved the innocent depiction of everyday objects, but has always utilised coded images.

For much of the history of the still-life, it has been Christian codes that viewers have been required to decipher.'

I have also written on the same exhibition for Artlyst in an article exploring whether art can transform society.

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Shovels & Rope - Death Or Glory.

Artlyst article: Can art transform society?

My latest article for Artlyst explores whether art can transform society by considering two current exhibitions that seem to suggest that it can. The exhibitions are:

• Nature Morte at the Guildhall Art Gallery which explores both the history of the still life and contemporary applications to invite viewers to pause, look anew at the human condition, and confront what it means to be human; and 
• Coming Out: Sexuality, Gender & Identity, at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which explores the contribution of art to documented change in relation to social attitudes towards the LGBT+ community.

My article suggests that art can enable us to see the world differently, offering insights into personal experiences beyond our own but that this transformative power of art is fully unleashed when we understand the histories, stories and traditions (both recent and past) on which the artworks draw.

My other Artlyst articles are:

• 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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Tom Morello & The Nightwatchman - Blind Willie McTell.