Module 4

Combined Studios and Self Directed Production

IX – The Hermit

Upright: Introspection, Inner Guidance, Solitude, Soul-Searching, Contemplation, Truth Seeking
Reversed: Withdrawal, Isolation, Loneliness, Losing Your Way
(Card meaning can be found here.)

If you recall the fun fact from earlier where a dear friend associated me with The Magician card, I have always found myself relating to The Hermit. The Hermit represents a soul-searching individual who recognises the importance of solitude. While there is value in the quiet of seclusion, it also warns against the loneliness of isolation. Having experienced no small amount of social anxiety throughout my life, The Hermit speaks to my own tendency to withdraw from engaging with others and the stress of engaging beyond my social causes. I have a tendency to “go dark” after experiencing traumas and challenges. The sculpture I created in response to this module’s prompt reflects this experience, while also being informed by the tendency to represent queerness in my art.

The sculpture was made up of 2 combined elements, the first being an old reclaimed timber door, on which I painted The Hermit card (the least ambiguous depiction of the source material of all the sculptures). I felt this was appropriate as it set the scene within the installation using a recognisable image from the Tarot, while also reinforcing the experience of walking through a life-sized Tarot spread. The door served as the ignition point for the rest of the sculpture, acting as the entryway to a dark triangular closet. The triangular construction was intentional (though challenging), as it meant that it could be placed in any room with a right-angled corner. Slotting in said corner has two benefits; first, it means that the door always faces outward (avoiding awkward placement or having to be central), and second, it creates a sort of liminal space that almost leaks into the environment.

The installation is accompanied by a somewhat didactic poster, that aims to set the atmosphere, while also directing the audience in how best to interact with the work. This is because the inside of this closet acts as a non-denominational interpretation of a confessional, extricating the shame and audience associated with a typical Catholic/Christian confession booth. Furthermore, the metaphor of “in the closet” is relevant to my lived experience, being a queer person living in a heteronormative society. The lightless space and blackened walls, ceiling, and floor create an almost oppressively dark environment, akin to the darkness implied by the torch held by The Hermit. Just like how he carries his lantern, almost everyone carries a source of light in the form of their phone’s torch, meaning they are able to engage in the primary participatory element of the work; the confession. Audience members are encouraged to spend some time in the work, reflecting on something private, secret or personal (and hopefully prompted by the contents of the exhibition they had to pass en route to the closet). After contemplating, they are able to use one of the metallic markers provided to write an anonymous disclosure on the inner walls of the closet, making both a public and private admission.

It is my hope that this sculpture prompts the audience the shine a light inwards, exploring something they would otherwise obfuscate from others or themselves. It projects the internal experience of members of the queer community (or really any marginalised group) of isolation, rumination and anxiety. This closet serves to bring the individual and community together, promoting the catharsis of unburdening yourself, the vulnerability of exposing yourself, and the solidarity of understanding that there are many walking a difficult path seemingly alone.

Installation Didactic Material