Saint Sebastian

In 2009 I designed an icon of St Sebastian that is contemporary in style but conveying an apt message.  I wanted to talk about the erotic and sexuality in faith and spirituality.  Fear and ignorance though often mean such topics are not spoken about within some religious circles.  It is almost as if some people have let their own hands be tied behind their backs but when they look they see there is no rope!   The question is why have some people allowed themselves to be conditioned into thinking the erotic as sinful in all contexts and sexuality as having implicit religious norms?   The arrows of condemnation easily hit their intended targets in this situation.  Hands are wrung in despair and guilt but why?  In this icon Saint Sebastian conveys all these emotions and confusions and yet thankfully he is not contained by the boundaries of religious judgement but rather steps outside its borders.  He has been hurt by the transgressions of others and by his own doubts but he steps forward in faith - not as a victim but as a strong resilient human being.

You can purchase prints of this icon here RRREHEART

Studio Altar

Skull

Kete

Monstrance

Satyavan's Visit

Mountain

Koru

No chickens have been hurt in this installation!   In my studio I have an altar.   I pray before this altar when I arrive and when I finish and leave for the day.  My studio altar consists of objects found or made.   Each object has a meaning or memory which I hold close to my heart. 

SKULL - This papier mache piece was made by me at a Day of the Dead workshop with Marcela Montoya.   It represents death.   I find the day of the Dead festival a wonderful way to acknowledge death.  It is something we all have to face whether it be our own or someone else’s.  In 2008 I spent a wonderful day working with the Linares family in Mexico city.  The Linares are renowned for their papier mache work of skulls and skeletons and alebrijes used in the Day of the Dead festivities.   Some of their work can be seen in the British Museum. 

KETE - The Kete (bag) is made out of flax.  This one was made by my Auntie Betty and holds my incense and charcoal.    It was her first kete she had made.  To me it is a family heirloom.    

MONSTRANCE - A liturgical vessel used in Churches a monstrance  is designed to hold a consecrated host.  Here I have inserted a picture of a fish.   As a child I had an ambition to visit the Great Barrier Reef.   When I was 18 I travelled to Australia and up to Cairns catching a ride on a fishing boat out to the outer reef.   The first time I put my head under the water I saw I was surrounded by a huge school of tropical fish of all shapes, sizes and colours swimming around me.   As well as fish there were huge clams, beautiful coral, manta ray and reef sharks.  It was absolutely stunning and a dream come true.  

SATYAVAN’S VISIT - The backdrop to the altar is a painting titled Satyavan’s visit.  This is named after a friend who introduced me to some Shamanic teachings.  Satyavan’s name is taken from the story of Savitri and Satyavan.   When Satyvan dies and Death comes to take him his wife Savitri follows asking Death to return her beloved husband to her. Eventually after much journeying Death is moved by Savitri’s dedication and devotion.  He grants Savitri her wish and gives her husband back for them to live a long and prosperous life together.  

MOUNTAIN - Last year I had a number of dreams about mountains.  I grew up near mountains so it is not so surprising but the shape of the mountains in my dreams were quite unique and their presence seemed quite mystical.   Inspired by the dreams I made a mountain out of papier mache and gesso.   Later in the same year I travelled to Peru and visited Machu Pichu.  The peaks around this amazing place reminded me of my dream mountains.  

KORU - The Koru is an important motif for me.  I have been drawing it for years and it appears in much of my work including some icons.  This is a piece I carved a couple of years ago. The Koru represents the constant unfolding of time past and present.   

Studio Altar

Saint Paul and the Huia

Saint Paul and the Huia

In 2008 I had the great privilege of being based in a studio at St Paul's Cathedral.  The Canon's had commissioned me to write an icon of Saint Paul and so for the next year I worked away in a room in the north of the cathedral accessed by entering a cleaning cupboard in the Minor Canon's vestry and climbing a winding staircase up into a room that seemed quite hidden and forgotten by time.

Regan O'Callaghan Saint Paul's Cathedral London stair well

The icon was dedicated on the 16th November 2008 at Evensong by the Bishop of London and is displayed in front of the high altar of the Cathedral.

Below is a description of the icon.

"Saint Paul is seen holding his letters upon which Saint Paul's Cathedral is carried.  Above him is his tent and on his shoulder an exotic bird.  The Huia, an indigenous bird of Aotearoa ( New Zealand ) is clearly not a typical orthodox image, but I have included it for an important reason.  The Huia, above all other species in the forest, was sacred to Maori.  It was believed a gatekeeper to the seventh heaven and was also closely associated with the great chiefs of the land and only chiefs of distinction could properly wear its tail.  When it became rare, Maori declared it 'tapu' (sacred) but sadly this was not enough to save it as its tail feathers became sought after in Europe as well.  The Huia became extinct in the early part of the 20th century.  As well as its plumage, the Huia's call was very beautiful.  The Huia that sits on Saint Paul's shoulder, reminds us that even though its song has been silenced, we are all still called to listen for the inspired beauty of God's song found in creation and Holy Scripture.  The flowers on St Paul's tent encourage us to smell the sweet scent of heaven.  St Paul himself looks directly at you the viewer.  He waits to hear what you have to say.  His hand which is about to bless points towards heaven and also appears to be waving.  The swirling pattern on his right side is the 'koru'.  This is an image inspired by an unfolding fern frond and it symbolises eternal life.

High Altar St Paul's Cathedral.

www.nzherald.co.nz/arts/news/article.cfm?c_id=544&objectid=10697341

www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2008/07/14/offscreen_feature.shtml

Patronal festival Saint Paul, icon, huia, gold leaf, saint paul's cathedral

St Paul Patronal 2011 - Day of the Phoenix

Photo by Graham Lacado.