Of the Past, Of the Present
Kathryn Hanna
Of the Past, Of the Present
Kathryn Hanna
Reference
SAS0154_008
Year
2022
Dimensions (cm)
Height: 30
Length: 60
Depth: 10
Length: 60
Depth: 10
Materials
Black Limestone, Flint
Current Location
Glasgow
Suitable Locations for the Work
- Indoors
- On a plinth
- In a case
Background, history, commissioner of the work
Created for 'Modern Abstractions Hide Ancient Realities' solo show exhibition at the MacLaurin Art Gallery, Ayr, 30th July - 16th October 2022.
This exhibition explored religious consciousness, what it means to be ‘sacred’ and how the word ‘religion’ can be misinterpreted. Inspired by the writings of archeologist André Parrot, scholars Carlin A Barton and Daniel Boyarin.
Thematic/contextual information
André Parrot was a French archaeologist, theologian and Director of the Louvre Museum from 1968 to 1972.
He was noted for discovering the ancient Mesopotamian city of Mari. In his book ’Discovering Buried Worlds’ Parrot describes a short history of archaeology through the lens of his excavations in Mari in1953.
‘In these desert lands the explorers have advanced.
Under the excavator’s pick age-old civilisations have
reappeared. They were thought to be dead. They were
only sleeping’
‘Of the past, of the present’ explores this quote - how things that were true in the past are just as true and relevant now. The Northern Irish Black Limestone and Flint used in the making of this piece was gifted to the artist by her grandfather, representing that passing of knowledge and belongings from the past through generations spoken of in Parrot’s quote.