The site-specific work, ‘Peregrini’, was devised by Brind & Harold for ‘Pilgrims and Pilgrimage: Sights and sounds of the sacred’, comprising a one-day Conference and two-week exhibition involving artists, poets, musicians and theologians, intended: firstly, to act as catalysts for dialogue between the languages of pilgrimage in their many forms, whether theological, philosophical, poetic or pragmatically driven; and secondly, to complement the very important collection of early church relics and sculptures on show in Govan Old Church.
The exhibition and conference brought into focus many of the ways in which pilgrimage is transmitted, shared or remembered; historically within the church and more recently in the secular West. The conference comprised a rich mix of academic analysis, poetry readings, textual memories and narratives brought back by pilgrims, as well as performances of early and contemporary church music. These were expanded upon through the contemporary art, using a range of media, including video, sound, printed texts and sculptural objects.
Govan Old Church, the site of which dates back to the late 9th century and possibly earlier, was itself once a site of pilgrimage. The present building holds within its walls some very fine objects of historical and sculptural importance: among them the 9th century sarcophagus associated, by some, with the Scottish Saint, Constantine, who is thought to have lived circa 6th century. It is known that, historically, his tomb was once a focus for pilgrimage. Also, within the church are a number of early stone crosses and grave stones, including five 10th century ‘hogback stones’. Tourists and locals regularly visit the church to view these historic objects and there is still a small community who pray there on a regular basis. The building acts now as both a spiritual hub for the community and as a museum, and its changing conceptual form, may be considered as providing a parallel narrative to accompany the changing nature of pilgrimage.
Exhibition: 19th May – 3rd June 2018
Opening times: 1.00 – 5.00 pm daily
Exhibiting artists: Sara Alonso, Susan Brind & Jim Harold, Conor Cook & Joanna Peace, Jasper Coppes, Victoria Evans, Cristina Garriga, Birthe Jorgensen and Emil Lillo.
Conference: Saturday 19th May 2018
10.00 am – 5.15 pm
Conference presenters and performers included: Prof Ian Bradley (University of St Andrews), Chris Taylor, David Hamilton (Royal Conservatoire), poets Gerrie Fellows, Vicki Husband and Jane Hartshorn, introduced by Sam Tongue (University of Glasgow), as well as readings by Susan Brind and Joanna Peace, followed by a round table discussion chaired by Prof Heather Walton (University of Glasgow).
