Dome of St Paul's to become a blog

An extraordinary art project is about to be unveiled at St Paul's in London. Or rather not so much 'at' the cathedral as on the very dome itself of Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece. St Paul's is to be transformed from white into midnight blue by artist Martin Firrell. And the words of you, me or indeed anyone who contributes to the blog now up at Martin Firrell's website will be projected up there in white-on-blue for all to see. In other words, this great cathedral is to be turned into ... a weblog. A weblog on the Meaning of Life, but a weblog nonetheless.

You can watch this video on it, from the documentary being made about the project:

The project, which will be unveiled soon, is called The Question Mark Inside. You have to put down 'what gives your life meaning.' Once started, I found it almost impossible to stop posting.

There is also a video on the site where Martin Firrell explains the project.

He says: 'It is a project about what gives people's lives meaning and purpose... It is not faith-based at all.'
For some, he admits, faith is what gives their lives meaning. But for others it can be art, rationality or just 'humanism'. He says: 'I have a fundamental faith in folk, that people are interesting and good.'

Texts will also be projected onto the Whispering Gallery and the Ludgate Hill extension, as this Church Times piece from the start of the project back in May explained.

Firrell is an amazingly accomplished man for our times. Born on the Champs Elysees, he left school early, believing it to be a waste of time. He's had many textual works of art on London's most famous buildings. He is also cultural ambassador for the International Herald Tribune, a paper which has a special place in my own heart because my late father-in-law was its ballet critic.

Here are some of the contributions so far:

Anonymous said...     'I couldn't imagine life without music, the sea, cold air and bright sun, and the people I love, my mother, my sisters, my friends.     As for the cathedral itself, for me it means there's more to life than facts and figures - there's something else that's always slightly out of reach but we know it's there, something thoughtful and important.'

Kelly Harker said...     'ONE MOMENT OF HAPPINESS. That's all I really ask for in each day. TO FEEL MY HEART EXPAND.     HAPPINESS.     To feel the warmth of the sun on my face. To see someone smile. To feel the wind through my hair.'

Angie Cain said...     'I treasure every moment. From the heart swelling giddiness I experience every morning when I wake up and look into my husband's sleepy eyes. To the surge of pride that I feel for my family. The overwhelming urge to honor, protect and love continues to leave me breathless and shocked from it's ability to floor me. Daily it continues to prove that I am nothing..ABSOLUTELY NOTHING..without them.'

Melissa Cathleen said...     'This project is so amazing and     it brings and instills so much     hope for humanity.     Martin is so amazing with his     bold statements. He brings to     light wisdom that evokes so     much thought... and he does it     in the most beautiful way..     such an artist If I could afford it I would be there to see it in person.'

Sarah Wakon said...     When people ask me questions about myself and how I feel about something I'm always reminded of the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning 'The Soul's Expression':    

With stammering lips and insufficient sound I strive and struggle to deliver right    
That music of my nature, day and night    
With dream and thought and feeling interwound    
And inly answering all the senses round    
With octaves of a mystic depth and height    
Which step out grandly to the infinite    
From the dark edges of the sensual ground.    
This song of soul I struggle to outbear    
Through portals of the sense, sublime and whole,    
And utter all myself into the air:    
But if I did it,--as the thunder-roll    
Breaks its own cloud, my flesh would perish there,    
Before that dread apocalypse of soul.    

Comments

[Mark Waddington]

This is a wonderful idea. The artist uses an existing space and transforms it. He allows participation while not controlling the content, only the space. Offering boundaries rather than prescriptions. The resulting expression is in partnership with the audience and has wide visibility - not only in London, but through world wide networks.

This is a great example for the church to follow in its life and worship. Imagine if this approach were taken in Sunday services.

[j]

Oh boy Fr VW, what little boy wouldn't want the chance to scribble on the dome of St Paul's! it's like the science museum where you can send your message scrolling round the building (and yes, some of those are v rude indeed...)

[Fr. Van Windsor]

Thank you for this. I went to the site the other day, and just found myself smiling. When my boys came to the church office from our school, I showed them what I had written about them and they loved it. They want to go on the site, now that is a scary thought :)

[Lidis Singkung]

Yes, I agree that opticians may see an increase in treade, but what has has got to compare with when millions of peoples' are motivated to change by just reading short liveing words on life and living. Bravo.

[R S Bunker]

Gee, Ruth are you just avoiding the roiling in TEC with Dio Pittsburg leaving?

RS Bunker

[j]

A good thing to have a life-enhancing project at the heart of the City in such difficult times. I wish it well.

Opticians may see an increase in trade, as people try to read it...