Pillars of Dawn: the significance of setting
Seaton Delaval Hall, a National Trust property in the North-East of England, is the current setting for an installation of artwork by Canadian artist Kelly Richardson who lived in the area for a time as a student in Newcastle University. The property, partially destroyed by fire in 1822, was left derelict and deserted for many years and is now being gradually restored by the National Trust. The Central Hall, with its vaulted ceiling and pillars, retains the scars of its history and as such provides an evocative backdrop to Richardson’s work. ‘Pillars of Dawn’ is being exhibited simultaneously at two venues, the other being Southampton City Art Gallery. Here the installation consists of two large cuboid light boxes, facing each other across the Hall. Their straight lines, flat monochrome surfaces and modern appearance contrasts starkly with the warm brickwork and curved lines of the surrounding architecture.
The glossy black surface of each box is peppered with tiny flecks of light which converge to create an image of a tree — on the one side the tree is full and wide, on the other it is spare and cut back. The images are formed from millions of tiny crystals, which have been created in three dimensions using digital imaging software. Each represents a living species in existence on the earth, with the journey from full to sparse predicting the decline of life on this planet.
The reflective surface of the pieces makes them hard to photograph as the viewer can’t avoid becoming part of the image — the reflection of oneself serves as a reminder of our complicity in this decline of our world. We are forced to acknowledge our own responsibility as part of the problem. At the same time, the setting of the work in this location, brings an element of hope to the scenario. Seaton Delaval Hall, whose haunting beauty tells a story of damage and destruction, is also a monument to the process of recovery and restoration. It’s inclusion in the artwork, as the backdrop and through reflection in the surface of the boxes, allows the viewer to consider not only the problem but the steps that can be taken to mitigate the forcast decline.
Pillars of Dawn is on until 15th July at Seaton Delaval Hall. Open 11am til 5pm Saturday to Wednesday.
More information about Kelly Richardson’s work and the wider ‘Pillars of Dawn programme can be found on the artist’s website: http://kellyrichardson.net/
