ROGER THORP – IN FIELDS OF GRACE

4th – 9th October 2018,

Open: 11am – 7pm daily

Private View: Thursday 4th October 2018, 6.00pm – 9.00pm

WEBSITE: www.anima-mundi.co.uk

In the subterranean setting of The Crypt Gallery at St Pancras Church, Anima-Mundi presents ‘In Fields of Grace’ an elemental, multimedia solo exhibition by British artist Roger Thorp consisting of five immersive and interactive installations. ‘In Fields of Grace’ presents an echoing loop, as if from a scene within a script, where Thorp’s protagonist dreams he is walking through Campo de Fiori in Rome – no longer as a cobbled piazza, but a field of wild flowers. A nostalgic lamentation for the past permeates all facets of the exhibition evoking a quiet and subtle sense of urgency to protect what is unique and authentic; in contrast to the pervasive erosion endemic to our contemporary world. The multi-layered nature of Thorp’s work, accompanied by intricate soundscapes and snippets of spoken word create a rich environment, in which the audience is taken out of our daily monotony and immersed in a whirling, dancing, beautiful dream.

About ‘In Fields of Grace’

In Fields of Grace (2018) presents wall-sized, grainy black and white photographs that fade in and out to reveal images retrieved from a transformative journey made by the artist in 1982. Hitching from Paris to Tuscany Thorp took photographs and recordings of sites and objects discovered by chance, things he found beautiful or charged with meaning – a church bell chiming, a poster of the planets found on the floor in Rome. These marked his rite of passage, but seen now they suggest nostalgia for a way of life in decline, about to disappear. Following the sequence of images, a lyrical poem ‘In Fields of Grace’ scrolls down the screen, evoking these sentiments. Acting as a visual and aural anchor positioned in front of the projection is a richly symbolic white fountain, its gently cascading water providing a constant and soothing backdrop, connecting across cultures to ancient times, to renewal and the essence of life. Excerpt from Dr Virginia Button “About In Fields of Grace” essay.

Read the full essay at www.anima-mundi.co.uk