Johan Thom

Date: 2009
Medium: Installation: Video projection on mounds of salt, glass
Sizes: 125 x 200 x 45 cm (approx)

For this project I thought specifically about the notion of distance, of looking outward into space as a means of establishing a provisional locus. The exteriority of this locus is questioned and rendered ambivalent through the disappearing body: the gaping wound that makes of Saint Thomas a believer in a transcendent body.On an obvious level the work refers to the sufferers of stigmata, the ecstatics who experience the divine in the flesh through the appearance of wounds/ marks on their hands, feet, side, or brow – the marks of the Passion of Christ with corresponding and intense psychological an physical suffering. In ‘Panopticon’, salt is substituted for blood, perhaps referring to the healing properties of salt as an antiseptic material but also playing with the idea of ‘rubbing salt in ones wounds’, thus compounding the agony of one who has already suffered injury.

In ‘Panopticon’ the viewer of the artwork is ultimately positioned as an integral part of the work itself, taking the place of St Thomas and the desire inherent in his request to become ‘witness’ to the wounds of Jesus. Of course, given the title of the piece, relations of power are inherent in this exchange.

St FrAncIs Of AssIsI (1186 – 1226) St LUtgArdE (1182 – 1246) St MArgArEt of COrtOnA (1247 – 97) St GErtrUdE (1256 – 1302) St ClArE Of MOntEfAlcO (1268 – 1308) St AngElA of FOlIgnO (d. 1309) St CAthErInE Of SIEnA (1347 – 80) St LIdwInE (1380 – 1433) St FrAncEs of ROmE (1384 – 1440) St COlEttE (1380 – 1447) St RItA of CAssIA (1386 – 1456) Bl OsAnnA of MAntUA (1499 – 1505) St CAthErInE of GEnOA (1447 – 1510) Bl BAptIstA VArAnI (1458 – 1524) Bl LUcy Of NArnI (1476 – 1547) Bl CAthErInE of RAccOnIgI (1486 – 1547) St JOhn of GOd (1495 – 1550) St.CAthErInE dE’ RIccI (1522 – 89) St MArY MAgdAlEnE dE’ PAzzI (1566 – 1607) Bl MArIE dE l’IncArnAtIOn (1566 – 1618) Bl MAry AnnE of JEsUs (1557 – 1620) Bl CArlO of SEzzE (d. 1670) BlEssEd MArgArEt MAry AlAcOqUE (1647 – 90) St VErOnIcA GIUlIAnI (1600 – 1727) St MAry FrAncEs Of thE FIvE WOUnds (1715 – 91) CAthErinE EmmErIch (1774 – 1824) ElIzAbEth CAnOrI MOrA (1774 – 1825) AnnA MAriA TAIgI (1769 – 1837) MArIA DOmInIcA LAzzArI (1815 – 48) MArIE dE MOErl (1812 – 68) LOUIsE LAtEAU (1850 – 83)

The work ‘Panopticon’ was made with technical assistance by Justus De Jager, Director of Photography. Please visit: http://justusdejager.com/Home.html