Dead Souls
Åplus / Berlin / 2020 (solo)
'Åplus is pleased to once again host Philip Newcombe. This time the artist is presenting a second body of work, a series of drawings (smoke on paper) consisting of 21 conversations with the dead.
The scarce and laconic appearance of these recordings does not need to defend itself with abundant, insistent explanations. Newcombe’s drawing tools were remnants of partially burnt votive candles found on church floors visited by the artist during a voyage around Europe.
Primarily lit on rails next to altars in the memory of the deceased the candles that had fallen down were presumably unable to resist gushes of air or unexpected displacement. Philip Newcombe collected and - back in his atelier - rekindled them. By doing so he was able to extend the candles’ lights (lives) and the memory of the people that they were representing. Newcombe executed this act of revival in the form of taciturn, abstract conversations which in a way recall spiritualistic séances, but in which no questions were asked and no answers were delivered from beyond.
The viewers can perceive their singular outcome in the current exhibition at Åplus, that is, 21 diagrams of smoke piled flatly on white squarish paper sheets.'
DS 01
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted
DS 02
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted
DS 03
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 04
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 05
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 06
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 07
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 08
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 09
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 10
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 11
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 12
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 13
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 14
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 15
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 16
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 17
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 18
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 19
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 20
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
DS 21
12 x 12 Inches wooden framed white paper scarred by smoke residue of stolen¹ and untraceable votive candle from assorted European church, relit in England, February 2020, wall mounted.
Text: Majla Zeneli, Rasmus Kjelsrud
____________________
¹
Produced from church property after falling as a votive candle and extinguished by the nave flooring as a redundant wax candle.
