A Highgate gallery is staging a poetic and artistic response to former resident Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Beyond the Shadow of The Ship runs at Three Highgate Gallery and is curated by artist Pato Bosich and author Adriana Díaz Enciso.
Subtitled 'In search of Coleridge and Imagination in the Spiral of Time' they have gathered twenty writers and artists: "To celebrate Coleridge’s vision in the heart of Highgate where he lived, worked, and died, in a dialogue with one of literature’s most glorious journeys."
The story of a long ago sailing voyage was first published in 1798 by the poet, who lived in Highgate from 1823 until his death in 1834 and is buried in St Michael's Church.
The exhibition continues his legacy with contemporary responses to his poetry, and interpretations of his work through time.
It includes a series of prints by renowned Brazilian artist Ana María Pacheco, merging myth, folklore and Medieval imagery, depicting a dark voyage that connects in an uncanny way with Coleridge’s seafarer.
Ghost ships are discerned in both a vision by late Catalan artist Antoni Tàpies, and a colossal piece by British contemporary artist James Dean Diamond, who explores the expressive fusion of science, technology and photography.
Artist and poet Fabian Peake explores the limits of image, word and visual media with a beautiful textile wall piece, and Three Highgate's artist in residence Bosich exhibits work from his series 'I bleed, you levitate me,' with poetic and alchemical themes which echo Coleridge's poem through a visionary journey along a golden and 'bloody” sun.
The works were originally inspired by a collaboration with singer Irina D on the theme of the albatross, and an art video directed by Boisch and Irina D is in the exhibition.
Widely-travelled British photographer Simon Harsent, exhibits his imposing iceberg monograph Melt, alongside four portraits of the sea, from Salt Moon. (Guillemot Press) Written by his father, poet and author David Harsent, the poems in Salt Moon are powerful images of mourning, loss longing and rapture, recalling the sea, its shores and birds - a fitting dialogue with the ancient mariner’s woe.
A more direct dialogue is found in David Constantine’s poem, inspired by one of Doré’s illustrations to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, an answering back to the ship’s curse brought about by a crime against nature.
Beyond The Shadow of The Ship runs December 8 until January 15 at 3, Highgate High Street, N6. Thursdays 2-6pm, Saturdays 11-6pm and Sundays 2-6pm. At other times by appointment only. info@threehighgate.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here