On the week-end, I spent a wonderful half-hour watching Mark Wallinger's wonderful installation piece at Tate Britain; called 'Threshold to the Kingdom'. I'd seen it before, but I hadn't sat through the whole thing previously (about 12 minutes). You can find a couple of versions on video sites, but I wouldn't recommend them. You really need to see the piece itself, at the Tate; as it is so site specific as to be rendered meaningless without its context. I won't spoil it for you by describing the artwork, other than to say that it's rare enough to find art which is so thought-provoking and clever. However, it's even rarer to find art which is also so utterly moving.
Ok I will describe it - but I can't do it justice: You are sat in a part of the Tate which looks and feels like a high-domed cathedral. You are looking at the 'International Arrivals' gate at a London airport and listening to the ethereal strains of the famous 'Miserere' by Gregorio Allegri. As people of all types and nationalities emerge from the arrivals gate, and stride towards you in slow motion, you feel as if you are God welcoming your people into the Kingdom of Heaven. The latterday St. Peter, on the left of the screen (pearly gates?), watches each batch of new arrivals; and you half expect him to get up and bar some of them from entering. That doesn't happen (hope for us all?).
The whole experience is so meditative, I could sit and watch it for hours. If you've seen it already, I'd just like to remind you that it's worth visiting again. If you haven't seen it, I would urge you to go and see it (and let me know what you think).
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