Pilgrims Way: Postcard Journey (2015)
Can a postcard enact the pilgrim journey for me?
The Pilgrims Way is a 130 mile pathway connecting two popular pilgrimage sites, Winchester and Canterbury. For much of the length, the route follows the chalk escarpments of the North Downs, a characteristic geographical landscape of Southern England, and passes through some of the most beautiful sceneries of Hampshire, Surrey and Kent.
The aim of the art project was to enact the pilgrim journey using a postcard rather than physically walking the ancient route. From Winchester to Canterbury, a postcard of Winchester Cathedral and a pilgrim passport booklet was passed from one parish church to the next along the Pilgrims Way. A total of 13 parish churches were involved together with Winchester Cathedral and Canterbury Cathedral. It took just over two months for the journey to complete.
The project questions the definition of authentic experience and asks what constitutes authenticity. How would we define a journey conducted by an inanimate object? Where do I as the artist stand in relation to this experience?
This project was exhibited in Winchester Gallery, University of Southampton as part of '10 DAYS WINCHESTER' art festival in October 2015.
13 parish churches that took part in this art project:
- St John the Baptist, Alresford
- St Lawrence Church, Alton
- St Andrew's Parish Church, Farnham
- St Martha-on-the-Hill Christ Church, Guildford
- St James' Church, Shere
- St Barnabas Church, Dorking
- St Mary the Virgin, Caterham
- St Mary's Church, Oxted
- St Bartholomew's Church, Otford
- St Michael and All Angels Church, Cuxton
- St Martin of Tours, Detling
- St Mary's Church, Lenham
- St Mary's Church, Chilham
WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL
CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL
The Pilgrims Way is a 130 mile pathway connecting two popular pilgrimage sites, Winchester and Canterbury. For much of the length, the route follows the chalk escarpments of the North Downs, a characteristic geographical landscape of Southern England, and passes through some of the most beautiful sceneries of Hampshire, Surrey and Kent.
The aim of the art project was to enact the pilgrim journey using a postcard rather than physically walking the ancient route. From Winchester to Canterbury, a postcard of Winchester Cathedral and a pilgrim passport booklet was passed from one parish church to the next along the Pilgrims Way. A total of 13 parish churches were involved together with Winchester Cathedral and Canterbury Cathedral. It took just over two months for the journey to complete.
The project questions the definition of authentic experience and asks what constitutes authenticity. How would we define a journey conducted by an inanimate object? Where do I as the artist stand in relation to this experience?
This project was exhibited in Winchester Gallery, University of Southampton as part of '10 DAYS WINCHESTER' art festival in October 2015.
13 parish churches that took part in this art project:
- St John the Baptist, Alresford
- St Lawrence Church, Alton
- St Andrew's Parish Church, Farnham
- St Martha-on-the-Hill Christ Church, Guildford
- St James' Church, Shere
- St Barnabas Church, Dorking
- St Mary the Virgin, Caterham
- St Mary's Church, Oxted
- St Bartholomew's Church, Otford
- St Michael and All Angels Church, Cuxton
- St Martin of Tours, Detling
- St Mary's Church, Lenham
- St Mary's Church, Chilham
WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL
CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL
A 'Postal Travel Kit' comprising of a postcard of Winchester Cathedral, Pilgrims Passport artist booklet, stamped addressed envelopes and information sheet was used to facilitate the pilgrims journey.
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Pilgrims Passport shows the location of the parish churches along the 130 miles Pilgrims Way from Winchester to Canterbury. The white boxes are for the parish churches to adorn their stamp to record the journey .
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Postal Travel Kit
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Final display of the art project at Winchester Gallery as part of the '10 DAYS WINCHESTER' art festival in October 2015.
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