It’s always fun to have something new to get one’s teeth stuck into, and at the moment I am in the process of producing a series of short videos – vignettes if you will – to document the progress of artist Michael Takeo Magruder as he produces a new artwork for Coexist House‘s Stations of the Cross exhibition. If you aren’t familiar with Coexist House:

“Coexist House will be a new global centre in the heart of London for transforming public understanding about the practices and perspectives of the world’s religions, promoting better, more peaceful, relationships across divides”
“…reaching out to people of all faiths and none“

Stations of the Cross is an exhibition that will take place “across 14 iconic locations in London, using works of art to tell the story of the Passion in a new way, for people of different faiths” (if – like mine did – your knowledge of the 14 stations needs brushing up a bit, brush away here)

The artwork: Lamentation for the Forsaken

Michael was commissioned to create an artwork for the 13th station, in which Christ’s body is taken down from the cross. His work, Lamentation for the Forsaken, “offers a lamentation not only for the forsaken Christ, but others who have felt his acute pain of abandonment.  In particular, Takeo evokes the memory of Syrians who have passed away in the present conflict, weaving their names and images into a contemporary Shroud of Turin”

If you want to know more, you’re going to have to…

Watch the videos

In my video series, I am documenting the entire process of the creation and exhibition of this work. The first three videos, Context, Research and Production, are available to view here.

1. Context – Michael’s ideas and inspiration for the work
2. Research – gathering data to form the various elements of the work
3. Production – constructing the artwork
4. Installation – installing the work at St Stephen Walbrook
5. Curation – a conversation with curator Dr Aaron Rosen
6. Conversation – conversations with other artists involved in the project
7. Reflection – final thoughts on the exhibition

Don’t want to leave the cosy comfort of this blog? Here’s the first video to give you a taste:

Arriving at Station XIII – 1. Context from Emma Puente on Vimeo.

More information

Find out more information about the artists, works and locations here where you’ll also be able to listen to podcasts featuring conversations with the artists about their work, and find links to a map of all the venues and an app you can download to help you navigate the Stations trail. The exhibition opens tonight and will run for the duration of Lent (until 28 March) – more information about related events here.