The exhibition ‘Re-Making Maps of the Mind: Medieval and Modern Journeys’ has moved again. It’s now in The Holy Trinity Chapel in St Mary’s Church in the centre of Swansea.
This image shows researcher and project manager Chloe McKenzie helping install the work.
The Holy Trinity Chapel
This beautiful chapel, situated behind the main altar of the church, has allowed us to hang the whole St Thomas Way exhibition together in one space for the first time.
The Map of Mundi
‘The Map of Mundi’ with its hundreds of paper spirals hangs in an alcove against a swirling background of blue. Two stunning contemporary stained glass windows, full of colour, by John Piper seem to hold it in place on either side.
Bubble?
Once again, the sacred space where the exhibition finds itself has directly impacted how the pilgrimage around it is experienced. I love the circular nature of this chapel – it’s like being in a bubble of sorts, with its wooden ceiling and windowed walls. It’s a very special feeling being here.
Windows on the World
The 6 tall windows provide an opportunity to show some of the works as translucent letting the light outside play through them. This seems to echo what’s going on at the other end of the church with the absolutely stunning contemporary stained glass ‘dove of peace’ window. This drew our attention all day, changing with the sunshine outside. At dusk, as the light faded, it seemed to draw out every last glimmer from the sky, providing almost a sunset itself inside the church. It’s simply beautiful.
The exhibition pieces do this on a much softer scale. The pale tracing paper diffuses the light coming in and sometimes it’s difficult to see the artwork itself. Instead, you look beyond, seeing echoes of lines and shapes in the trees and buildings outside. There are repeating patterns everywhere – the grids in the windows, the grids in the artworks, the grids in the wall next door…
An Indoor Pilgrimage
The other pieces in the exhibition once again form a ‘mini-pilgrimage’. But of course they are hung in a specific order here to suit the architecture and contemplative of the Chapel itself.
Thanks to the Rev Ian for his help and support in bringing the exhibition here to Swansea, the beginning/end of St Thomas Way itself.
Exhibition & workshop details
The exhibition is here until Saturday 6th October during Swansea’s International Festival and Arts Fringe. This week is also the Mother’s Union, so lots of people will hopefully get to visit.
I’ll be running a free creative workshop on Medieval Mapping on Saturday 6th October at 11am. Open to all but booking advised as places are limited. Book here:
Tel: 01792 655 489
