During the ceremony of her Final Profession, a sister lies in front of the alter while the community and the congregation say a litany or prayer of intercession, the the angels and saints...By the life and labour of all monks promote the welfare of all humanity...Hear prayer...etc.
Anne Noble, Artist
This is one of the
photographs
in our collection.
It was made in
Tyburn, London, England, Great Britain
in 1988.
See full details
Object Detail
About the Work
“This
image
is
from
one
of
my
favourite
series
by
Anne
Noble.
It’s
a
rare
and
sensitive
insight
into
the
private
rituals
that
is
decisively
recorded
at
a
moment
of
great
tension
in
an
environment
of
solitude.”
–
Zahra
Killeen-Chance,
‘My
Choice’
October
2021
From the Series "In the presence of Angels- Photographs of Contemporary life" 56 photographs."Two primary raw materials of photography, time and light, also happen to be two concepts central to the monastic life. Anne Noble's exhibition, In the presence of angels, which has been touring New Zealand for the last two years, captures the reality inhabited by the Benedictine nuns of Tyburn Convent, near the centre of London, and also illuminates the photo-artist's own practice. Nobles exposures reflect the nun's preoccupation with transcending the materiality and temporality of existence. In a catalogue essay to the show, Mother M. Xavier McMonagle describes her monastic vocation as a "spiritual dance between time and eternity"*. Photography is, in its own way, also a dance or transaction between time and timelessness. Its objective, like the liturgical life, can be "to sanctify time and all human activity"**" by Gregory O'Brien. Article ' Silent Films', in 'Illusions'. pg 36. See Loan file.
*In the presence of Angels, Exhibition catalogue, Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui, 1989, pp7-10.
**Ibid
From the Series "In the presence of Angels- Photographs of Contemporary life" 56 photographs."Two primary raw materials of photography, time and light, also happen to be two concepts central to the monastic life. Anne Noble's exhibition, In the presence of angels, which has been touring New Zealand for the last two years, captures the reality inhabited by the Benedictine nuns of Tyburn Convent, near the centre of London, and also illuminates the photo-artist's own practice. Nobles exposures reflect the nun's preoccupation with transcending the materiality and temporality of existence. In a catalogue essay to the show, Mother M. Xavier McMonagle describes her monastic vocation as a "spiritual dance between time and eternity"*. Photography is, in its own way, also a dance or transaction between time and timelessness. Its objective, like the liturgical life, can be "to sanctify time and all human activity"**" by Gregory O'Brien. Article ' Silent Films', in 'Illusions'. pg 36. See Loan file.
*In the presence of Angels, Exhibition catalogue, Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui, 1989, pp7-10.
**Ibid
This record represents a work in a series and has related works.
Measurements
Image 111 x 165mm
Media
silver toned silver gelatin photograph
Description
An image from the Series "In the presence of Angels- Photographs of Contemporary life" which comprises of 56 photographs. Black and white photograph showing a nun in black habit lying face down in front of the altar on a stone tiled floor. At the rear of the image is a row of kneeling figures clothed in white robes and holding paper sheet booklets.
Credit Line
On long term loan to the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui
Collection Type
Loans
Collection
Acquisition Date
1991
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Accession Number:
L1991/23/47