Religious following: Bill Viola's 'Martyrs' bear witness at Auckland Castle

Auckland Castle interior, white walls, arched stained glass window, decorated cloth covered alter on a black platform, black and white diamond design stone floor, stone pillar, red seat, row of small wooden shields on left wall under window, stone and wood centre piece on right wall four pieces of art work incorporated
Installation view of Bill Viola's new digital altarpiece at Auckland Castle in County Durham, a bespoke reworking of his 2014 video 'Martyrs (Earth, Air, Fire, Water)'. Courtesy of Auckland Castle Trust.
(Image credit: Mark Pinder)
By Jessica Klingelfuss
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Contemporary art and religion almost always intuitively find themselves at odds. Under the mystical guidance of Bill Viola, however, the two worlds seem to collide with impossibly gripping effect. In his latest show, the American video artist returns to the north east of England, where visitors to Auckland Castle in County Durham can find faith (or denounce it) through Viola's haunting digital altarpiece.

Four figures across a quartet of vertical screens take centre stage at St Peter’s Chapel as they battle the cardinal elements, each confined to a perpetual cycle of torment. One figure sits engulfed in furious flames, while a relentless cascade of soil consumes another; a third martyr hangs upside down lashed with water, while the last is similarly bound, as wind whips her. Here, Viola reflects on the Greek word for martyr, originally meaning ‘witness.’

The polyptych - a nod to the ornamental multi-panelled altarpieces found in churches - provides a contemporary counterpoint to what is the largest private chapel in Europe. Under its arcing ceiling, carved with the heraldic arms of the Diocese of Durham, eagles, cherubim, and mitres, Viola’s quartet of martyrs writhe hypnotically with silent resolve. 

The installation heralds a new chapter for Auckland Castle, which has been earmarked for an ambitious £60m redevelopment scheme, with plans to transform the site into a major art and heritage destination.

Viola’s showing at the chapel borrows from his ‘Martyrs (Earth, Air, Fire, Water)’ video work, first unveiled last year and permanently installed at St Paul’s cathedral in London. ‘Martyrs’ serves as a prelude to a companion video work, ‘Mary’, set to join Viola’s installation at the cathedral this year. A retrospective of the artist’s work at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park will be unveiled in October.

Black background, four pieces of figure artwork representing earth, air, fire and water, from left: man with earth being poured on top of him, woman dressed in white tied to rope suspended in air, man sat on a chair surrounded by fire, man hung upside down by rope with water poured on top of him

Four figures across a quartet of vertical screens take centre stage at St Peter’s Chapel as they battle the cardinal elements, each confined to a perpetual cycle of torment. From left: 'Earth Martyr, 'Air Martyr', 'Fire Martyr', 'Water Martyr', all 2014. © Bill Viola.

(Image credit: Kira Perov)

Black background, man crouched covered in a mound of earth falling from above, covering his face and head with his hands

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A relentless cascade of soil consumes one character in 'Earth Martyr'. Watch the film unfold here...

(Image credit: TBC)

Auckland Castle interior, white walls, decorated cloth covered alter on a black stepped platform, black and white diamond design stone floor, two stone pillars, two red stools, stone and wood centre piece on right wall four pieces of art work incorporated, two standing planters with candles, wooden book stand

The polyptych - a nod to the traditional multi-panelled altarpieces found in churches - provides a contemporary counterpoint to what is the largest private chapel in Europe. Courtesy of Auckland Castle Trust.

(Image credit: Mark Pinder)

Black background, man sat in a chair engulfed by fire

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‘As the elements rage, each martyr’s resolve remains unchanged,’ explains the artist. ‘In their most violent assault, the elements represent the darkest hour of the martyr’s passage through death into the light.’ Watch 'Fire Martyr' above

(Image credit: TBC)

ADDRESS

Auckland Castle
Bishop Auckland
County Durham
DL14 7NR
United Kingdom

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Jessica Klingelfuss
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