Relics from Myth...Thelemite's Altar @ Bermondsey Project Space

http://www.robinspalding.co.uk/

After a year in the making I have finally finished Thelemite's Altar- or at least the first draft of it anyway.It's showing in Bermondsey Project Space from 30th June to 15th July.So far it has gone down pretty well, most people finding it "a bit Indiana Jones"  but hopefully interesting too.Last week the invigilator caught Charles Saatchi looking at it and registering "only a passing interest" , he apparently then went on to "express no specific emotion"... so I won't be waiting by the phone.

Thelemite's Altar

The altar is a mythological object, however it's inspirations have their roots in a genuine occult belief system. The inspirations on this one come from an belief system called "Thelema" which is a syncretic philiosophy combining the rituals and deities from many different ancient sources with a new prophecy, received by Aleister Crowley from the spirit Awaiss in 1904 (The Book of the Law). The altar holds a copy of this prophecy, nestled between all manner of gilded relief sculptures of a few choice deitys from the mythology.The installation holds the pretense of being a functional altar, which the viewer has stumbled upon (suspend disbelief here:) in a deserted corner of a South London warehouse.I'd like people to imagine it as a real functioning altar used by a practicing Thelemite (hence the title "Thelemite's Altar).

Close up of the Relics which sit on the altar

The real treasures on the altar (apart from the Book of the Law) are three legendary relics or talismans- which have been discovered recently (by me of course!) and are presented for their use as powerful elements in an unseen ritual or devotional act by said Thelemite.The relics are "Melchiors Gift to Christ" (the Gold given by a Zoroastrian Magi to Christ in the Nativity myth), King Solomon's Talisman used in the Sacred Magic ("found" in the foundations of The Temple of Solomon, Jerusalem. Solomon used the Sacred Magic to command the demon Asmodeus to build the Temple), Temple Relic Boleskine (thought to have been used by Crowley in the operation of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage).

All three of these treasured relics are of the same form, possibly meaning the same mysterious function in the ritual of The Sacred Magic- most accessably documented by Macgregor Mathers in his "The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage" - a fascinating read for anyone intrigued by esoteric religious practices.

There are plenty more symbols in the Altar, perhaps to be explained at a later date.Until then I urge you to have a look at the show in Bermondsey Project space (46 Willow Walk,London, SE1 5SF until 15th July) .It's a massive exhibition, also showing over 80 other artists in two huge warehouse spaces.It's not to be missed!

Information on the exhibition: http://www.bowarts.org/nunnery/bow-arts-open-2012-bow-arts-open-show