Brian Clarke : life and death

Brian Clarke is one of today's best-known artists internationally in the field of glass work.

The windows of the abbatial church of La Fille-Dieu in Romont were followed by large projects in co-operation with contemporary architects (including Pfizer Headquarters, New York) and recently paintings in glass for the Gothic cathedral of Linkoping in Sweden.

In addition to designs for buildings, the English artist creates work focusing on specific themes.

The exhibition of the newest series of work, 'Don't Forget the Lamb', and important testimonies of Brian Clarke's work from the past ten years relate to life and mortality.

Taking the perspective of death, the artist reverses the importance of materials: lead, as material of traditional stained glass, is used as the primary medium of composition.

The memento mori are juxtaposed with colourful signs of life, first of all the lilies of the great Glass Wall.

The motif of the lily from an ornament in the windows of the Sainte Chapelle in Paris becomes a symbol for the vibrant presence of the past.

The catalogue also includes numerous preliminary graphics for the glass paintings.