FMP_The Gates of Hell.

The Gates of Hell is a monumental sculptural work by Auguste Rodin that depicts a scene from "The Inferno", It stands at 6 m high, 4 m wide and 1 m deep and contains 180 figures. I just love the size of this thing, I've often heared about the doors of heaven and that they're open at the times of Ramadan etc, but never really encountered such a graphic, illustrative version of the opposition; brilliant!! Several of the figures were also cast independently by Rodin.

FMP_Visit to Coventry Cathedral and Ruins- Etched Glass

Engraved West Screen is adorned with saints and angels. The rows from the top of the Screen represent key figures of saints and martyrs. These rows are separated by angels. The second picture below shows how at close range they look rough and scrawled, yet viewed as a set from a distance they look magnificent and stunning.

FMP_Ruins - charred beams - Crucifix.

Charred beams which, on the night of the bombing, fell down from the roof and landed in the shape of a cross.

FMP_Thorned Crown

'The Crown of Thorns' remind us Jesus’ agony prior to his betrayal and arrest. It also tells of the visit of the Angel who held the ‘cup of suffering’ to Christ as He prayed. Especially like the third image below with just the thorns hoisted in mid air.

FMP_Baptistry and other stained glass windows.

No picture can describe the experience of suddenly leaving the old ruins and entering the new Cathedral. It is something out of this world. It's almost purposefully dark inside the cathedral so you view these exquisite, beautiful, individual panes to its full potential. The way the light is almost controlled on its way in.

FMP_St Michael and the Devil

Statue of St Michael and the Devil outside Coventry Cathedral, it is called St Michael's Victory over the Devil. Good will overcome evil!!

FMP_BALANCE_RELIGION

The areas I'd like to focus are on the SPLIT:

Why people believe in religion;

Why believe that God does not exist;

Why violence is part of their religion.

I practice Islam and regard myself as being a 'comfortable muslim'. Believing in, like many religions, the calm, peaceful, serene side. At what point does religion change to being extreme and violent using or involving physical force.

I'm trying to arrange an interview like session with a Muslim Priest and a Priest who used to be the Reverend of Coventry Cathedral.

Deliverable:

A sculpture, maybe a figure depicting the religious sides -

good/bad//evil//wicked//cruel//ugly//spirtual//tranquility//devotion//screaming//death

Posters, printed in the 'split duct process' which will consist of photography of my sculpture with visual typography.

Herbert Art Gallery

Visited Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry to get inspiration. Old painting styles of fleshy demons and divine light, then adding angles/geometry almost like Picasso's cubism but with a sinister beast impression. The painting below could be interpreted as the evil darkness emerging from the pure white or the pureness overpowering and drowning evil.

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3 dimentionally raised typography, painfully hand stitched!!

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This is definitely a 'touching and feeling' senses piece. Possibly my favourite, love the texture, the way the outer bigger holes are chamfered, reduced smaller and honed to a smooth finish.

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Simplicity can also work, add lighting and shadows into the mix it gives these sculptures a new dimension, specially coming back to them after an hour, to find the shadow in a different light, almost moving and not motionless.

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Even with bits missing off these gargoyles or faces and the simple detail of the eyes, can add to the eerie-ness, almost haunting look.

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As long as you've got interesting gestures, stances and poses you don't really need to be that critical on the detailing of sculptures: