The Moth, the Madonna
AWE + WONDER, Bargehouse & gallery@OXO, South Bank, London
"Drawing on ex-voto images from the sanctuary of the Black Madonna of Oropa in Italy, interleaved with glimpses of an allusive moth-like figure, and accompanied by a musical composition filled with plangent echoes, the piece offers an immersive experience. It aims to elicit a strong emotional response in the viewer by inviting us to follow an unfolding visual journey that taps into themes of memory, childhood, the maternal, and the natural world.
The moth represents transience, the Madonna transcendence. Music is often central to religious ritual, and the accompanying sound piece underscores our yearning for the sacred and our need to find this in the often painful circumstances of everyday life."
Accompanied by an original soundtrack composed and produced by William Lowry