Visualising Visions: art and mysticism across space and time

What type of art is made in altered states of consciousness, beyond the physical world, in connection with the divine? The history of art is filled with visions of other worlds, experiences of ecstasy and the invisible recesses of the mind. This talk looks at how humans visually depicted their experiences of the divine. We’ll look at art that conveys the ecstatic love of God in Sufi and Christian mysticism, heavenly landscapes in medieval Mexico and China, divination tools in ancient Rome and Mesopotamia as well as 20th century explorations into the mind with surrealism and hallucinogenic drugs. The goal is to genuinely explore how imagination has transformed humans beyond their immediate realities.

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the total duration of the event is 1 hour ( ~ 50mins lecture and 10mins Q&A)
the talk doesn’t require any prior training and anyone can join
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MORE ON this theme: visions and illusion

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SPEAKER – SARAH JAFFRAY
Sarah Jaffray holds a BA and MA in Art History with an emphasis in 19th/20th century France and a minor in the Italian Renaissance. She holds a second MA in Cultural Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London. Sarah was a lecturer for several colleges and universities in the Los Angeles area before relocating to London in 2012. She has worked in curatorial roles at the British Museum and Wellcome Collection. Sarah is currently a lecturer at the University of Arts London and Coordinator for City Lit’s Art History programme. Her art historical practice focuses on experimental narratives, artistic process, art pedagogy, politics and philosophy. Sarah’s current research is focused on translation and empathy.

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