In December this year, according to eschatological belief, the world is to come to an end. Exactly how this comes to pass is subject to conjecture however, meteorites, earthquakes or a combination of environmental and mythological phenomena’s appear to be the main predictions.
What is interesting is that a number of cultures from around the world have entertained the prediction of an end of days, an apocalypse. Moreover the end of world has entered popular thought and discussion not in a factual way but rather with a peculiar sense of anticipation. We are creatures who enjoy to speculate about our own demise.
The idea of a predestined, preordained dooms-day or “use-by date” for the world is ridiculous, however the consistency of its inclusion in numerous faiths and cultures does strike me as fascinating. An in-built conclusion to the long history of human existence that reflects our own mortality.
In this exhibition I attempted to suspend my own disbelief and created two series of works that explored the impending end of the world as fact. T he black and pink set of drawings depict our time on earth, surveyed by a series of omnipotent satellites that orbit a rosy earth and record our disbelief, anger and acceptance of the apocalypse. And the blue series of Private Skies that depict personalised heavens, post the apocalypse. Ever expanding and endless paradises that offer some consolation to our end of days.
The world will more than likely not be ending, however it’s always good to be prepared.
Lucas Grogan – November 2012