The otherwise splendid Ithell Colquhoun show at the Tate St Ives underplays the affinity between the occult and Surrealist sides to Colquhoun's weapons-grade psychic automatism
Finally getting around to reading this in its entirety--the link on automatism in the Blake and the Sea Monsters review helped steer me back! A real tour de force art historically in re. to Surrealism and entirely sympathetic to her work and studies. She's been a favorite of mine for some years. She's been HERE all along for those of us who swim in similar streams. The recent academic art world fervor over her work kinda feels like necrophilia to me, certain people scrambling to become "authorities" on her work, but at least the work is getting OUT there for new eyes.
Impressive work Andy. Thanks. I would dispute your comments about Cornwall, though. Firstly Ithell, like many other occultists (including Crowley) were interested in Celticism and the celtic church, and druidry. These were only a few of the additional reasons why she was interested in Cornwall per se. Also the idea she came here to get away from the artworld is flawed. Cornwall was more important than London as an art centre in the 50s! I m biased of course but theres lots on artcornwall.org about this. Also in my book The Reenchanted Landscape.
Thanks for your comments, Rupert. Yes, Colquhoun was deeply immersed in Celticism and Cornwall alike. I did not mean to suggest otherwise, only that these passions and interests were part of a more generalised occultism of which they were emanations, so to say.
Finally getting around to reading this in its entirety--the link on automatism in the Blake and the Sea Monsters review helped steer me back! A real tour de force art historically in re. to Surrealism and entirely sympathetic to her work and studies. She's been a favorite of mine for some years. She's been HERE all along for those of us who swim in similar streams. The recent academic art world fervor over her work kinda feels like necrophilia to me, certain people scrambling to become "authorities" on her work, but at least the work is getting OUT there for new eyes.
Impressive work Andy. Thanks. I would dispute your comments about Cornwall, though. Firstly Ithell, like many other occultists (including Crowley) were interested in Celticism and the celtic church, and druidry. These were only a few of the additional reasons why she was interested in Cornwall per se. Also the idea she came here to get away from the artworld is flawed. Cornwall was more important than London as an art centre in the 50s! I m biased of course but theres lots on artcornwall.org about this. Also in my book The Reenchanted Landscape.
Thanks for your comments, Rupert. Yes, Colquhoun was deeply immersed in Celticism and Cornwall alike. I did not mean to suggest otherwise, only that these passions and interests were part of a more generalised occultism of which they were emanations, so to say.
A ton of effort went into this & from what I've read so far, the level of intricate detail is very impressive!