Psychopomp

The first survey of Marcus Coates' work in a public gallery in the UK, 'Psychopomp' will include early film pieces, sculpture, sound, costumes and photographs as well as new work.

'Psychopomp' means 'the guide of souls' - the creatures, spirits, angels, or deities whose responsibility is to escort newly-deceased souls to the afterlife, or to act as mediators between the unconscious and conscious realms. Coates often assumes the identity of an animal, such as a fox, goshawk or stoat, by simulating its appearance, habits and language.

In the film, Stoat (1999) Coates totters around on ramshackle platforms, learning to recreate the animal's bounding movements; in Goshawk (1999), a telephoto lens captures the artist as a rare bird perched precariously at the top of a tree; while in Finfolk (2003), the artist emerges from the North Sea spluttering a new dialect, as spoken by seals.

Coates has also trained as a shaman and the exhibition includes films of his rituals, where he achieves a trance-like state and communes with the animal kingdom to address social issues.

"...I feel that my imagination can be put to good use socially, even politically." Marcus Coates

 

At Milton Keynes Gallery until 4 April 2010.

 

www.mk-g.org

 

 

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