Saints Alive - Michel Landy @ The National Gallery
The Saints Alive exhibition is a weird one. In a good way. Landy's moving sculptures are inspired by paintings in the gallery, of saints that suffered tortures and died as martyrs for their faith. You are encouraged to press buttons and pedals, and crank handles to see 'in action' the how the saints were tortured or self inflicted wounds. I found it very bizarre but surprising and uncanny at the same time. The sculptural collages creak, squeak and bang as wheels and chains are turned. 'killing or hurting' the sculptures: Saint Apollonia is pulling her teeth, Francis of Assisi gets the Stigmata on his body, Saint Jerome beats himself with a rock.
A very different and contemporary view of classical and Renaissance art collection from the gallery.
On display until 24th November 2013.
