|
 This project has evolved as a study of events that took place in the 18th century, namely, the Industrial Revolution, the French Revolution and the independence of the United States of America. During this era, the Illuminist ideals claiming that Reason was to be regarded as the most fundamental part of the human being’s constitution were planted and put into work. Used in the right manner, rationalism would change the world and liberate the humans from oppression and tyranny. The foundation of modern science was created during this period. The philosophers and the scientists, formulated questions that still catch our attention nowadays. Emanuel Swedenborg and William Blake sense an imminent tragedy in all the development that goes on in this period. They try to tell mankind that there are possibilities for a spirituality that both rationalism and empiricism deny. One can perceive them either as prophets, visionaries, anarchists or reactionaries. These two men constitute a radical, irrational, mystical presence, right in the middle of the Age of Reason. I have tried to place that times’ antagonisms into a contemporary context. The work I present consists of a theoretical part that is done according to an analysis of The Songs of Innocence and of Experience by William Blake, and Arcana Caelestia by Emanuel Swedenborg. I have mapped important categories such as the Child, the Lamb, Light and Darkness. Drawing on these, I have come up with the visual concept consisting of an installation with texts printed on AI plates using a silk screen technique, and pictures with engravings and photo etching. The texts are in Spanish, English and Swedish, and are almost signifying an apocalypse taking place right in front of our eyes. I have placed certain categories at strategic places in the text which point to mythical and Gnostic elements. |
|||||||||
