The Marriage of The Thames and The Rhine - a hand drawn animation and related charcoal drawings

The work,a hand drawn animation and a collection of charcoal drawings were exhibited in March 2010 at The Gallery in Redchurch Street EC2

To see the hand drawn animation (5 minutes) The Marriage of The Thames and The Rhine

The Marriage of The Thames and The Rhine, is re imagining of The Marriage of The Thames and the Rhine, The Masque of Gray’s Inn and The Inner Temple (1613) a Jacobean Masque written by Francis Beaumont and sponsored by Sir Francis Bacon to celebrate the marriage of Princess Elizabeth, James 1’s daughter to Frederick V ,The Elector Palatinate of the Rhineland in Germany. They were know as The Winter King and Queen.

The animation and charcoal drawings show the geographical, historical and cultural relationship between the Thames and the Rhine. Hermes, (as a seal) and Pegasus appear as symbols of the imagination traveling free without the limits and constraints of time and history, to be witnesses and our guides. The theme of unity, of land, people and culture is woven through the work.

The collection of smaller works in charcoal and paper (see below) depict a reimagining of Wagner’s operas, The Ring and Lohengrin, both works were set by the Rhine, Swan Knight who appears in Lohengrin has a strong connection to Kleve in Northern Germany where the opera is set.

Pegasus Flying Over The Rhine Towards London charcoal on paper 150cm x 120cm 2008