philosophy of the possible: artist unknown, found in the archives
SWEDENBORG HOUSE, LONDON
Taking inspiration from the term coined in early chemistry, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s 1809 novel, and a celebrated painting by René Magritte, Elective Affinities explores the mysterious connection between objects, ideas and inner experience. At its core lies the thought of Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772), whose philosophy of correspondences proposed a resonance between objects, places and events and our thoughts and affections.
Curated by Stephen McNeilly, the exhibition features rarely seen items from the Swedenborg House Collection, including works by William Blake, Helen Keller, Queen Ulrika Eleonora, André Breton and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. These historic pieces are counterpointed by newly nominated artworks, films and audio from invited contemporary figures including the acclaimed filmmakers The Quay Brothers, renowned writers Alice Albinia, Xiaolu Guo and Chloe Aridjis, and prize-winning artists Shezad Dawood and Kate MccGwire amongst others. [Also some Leonora Carrington thanks to Viktor Wynd]
One of my first stops in London last month (gawd, it already seems a lifetime ago) was the Swedenborg House in Bloomsbury for its Elective Affinities exhibition. Despite all the time I seem to spend in Bloomsbury I had never actually gone there before. What a wonderful place! If you are in London, there are a few more days to catch the exhibit which really is the best kind of coincidental arrangements from people associated with the house like Ian Sinclair and Chloë Ardjis, whose father’s new poetry collection is on sale there.
Leonora Carrington prints are featured and of course drew me — including the one I actually own AKA my pride and joy but there’s so much more that really delighted and interested me from items belonging to people like William Blake, a strange array of prose poems from Sinclair, a wee set from the Brothers Quay, sound installations in the stairwell, and many other curiosities. I would have loved to spend more time there and hope to return in the not too distant future. Some images to intrigue you:
