78.7cm x 94cm
Printed photo, archival quality, glicee print
Frame: gesso on wood and is approx from 1900
Museum quality anti reflective glass.
£3,500 + VAT
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The Light of the World. This refers to an Holman Hunt painting where Jesus holds a lantern and has the rather egotistical statement "I am the light of the world" attributed to him. But it’s also about electric light which is the real “light of the world”. It changed our entire way of life. How much do we take for granted flicking a switch to produce light? But it really is a kind of magic. There’s a light bulb in California that’s been burning continuously since 1901. We have to replace them because the Phoebus Cartel (comprised of major international electrical companies like Osram and Phillips) established in the 1920’s fixed the life expectancy of light bulbs at 1,000 hours. The cartel fined manufacturers for bulbs that lasted more than 1,000 hours. Otherwise, we would hardly ever have to replace them. The clock mechanism is from 1920 and still works. The computer parts are from a new raspberry pi that stopped working after a couple of weeks. Flowers just go on replenishing themselves forever if we let them...
ABOUT RICHARD BUTCHINS
Richard has worked as a multi-disciplinary artist since 2014 and lives by the sea in Hastings, UK. He is also an established filmmaker, journalist, novelist and photographer. Richard is an award winning artist with both his art and film making projects. His work has focused on those pushed to the margins of society, the fallen and broken on the way.
A self-taught artist in all respects he uses moving image and photography. Partially paralysed since childhood, Richard creates work exploring “ableist privilege” and otherness.
Richard is currently reinventing vanitas with photography using flowers, objects and superb lighting. He also continues to work on his film making, including documentaries about art and disability for major broadcasters in the UK.
OTHER WORK BY RICHARD IN THE EXHIBITION