Sketchbook: Moths

Sketchbook: Moths

Sketchbook: Moths

Sketchbook: Moths

News of the Week: The Pope

New work is on the way! But before I get to that I have a surprising one-off. The Pope visited Berlin today, the street outside my studio was blocked off for hours. I guess his convoy drove past on his way to give a speech to parliament. I've never witnessed police presence quite like this before.

I reworked this photograph with an eraser in 'honour' of the occasion. The process of stripping away colour from a newsprint photograph is unusual, especially in combination with the challenge of adding content to an already loaded image. The news image was already very graphic so I gave in to that effect. In any case, it gave me time to consider the visual qualities of organized religion and the tropes of representing belief in art. Working visually and critically in real time allowed the skirmishes and protests and helicopters overhead a little more than passing influence.

I'm not exactly sure what to think of this but I do know it's a rare opportunity to engage with my surroundings so directly through the medium of visual art. It seems like the right kind of post for restarting this blog.

The photo credit: Berliner Zeitung/ Markus Wächter

The Pope Ascending a Staircase, Erased Newsprint, 11.5cm x 32cm, 2011