Black Light
By Matthew Duffield
Philip Taaffe: Rose Triangle © Raymond Foye Collection
Over 350 works – drawings, paintings, installations, photography, video, music, text, poetry, comics – have been brought together for this meticulous and inspiring exhibition at CCCB. The art may come in many forms and the artists from a wide variety of backgrounds and sensibilities, but so do the secret traditions.
The occult (think Aleister Crowley) is placed alongside ‘60s counterculture icons like William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin, while philosophy and psychology are represented by figures like Carl Jung and Rudolf Steiner. The cosmic jazz vibes of Sun Ra and experimental cinema of Derek Jarman are juxtaposed with artists taking influences from esoteric religious experiences, Eastern philosophies, magic, mysticism and psychedelia.
It all fits together remarkably well and provides a glimpse into the worlds of these artists as they embarked on their inner journeys. This exhibition allows us to share those experiences.