Paul Grellier and Jo Nathan
18th September -17th October
Fri, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm
Two artists’ response to this unique and time lost place, explored through sculpture, painting, sound and moving image.
“Woodchester Mansion inspires contradictory feelings in me: I am impressed by it’s magnificent scale and fine craftsmanship, whilst being affected with a deep sense of desolation at the ‘stillborn’ nature of William Leigh’s grand enterprise. This reflects a seeming contradiction in the man himself, humbly devoted to his faith and family, whilst also driven by a grandiose and unrealistic vision which inevitably collapsed under the weight of its own expectations. My work seeks to pay tribute to William Leigh the visionary, ‘lighting a fire’ in the cold heart(h) of the house through music, sound and image, whilst acknowledging the ultimate destructiveness inherent in his singular religious idealism.” John Nathan
“ ‘The House that Bebo Built’ was a beautifully illustrated tale about a ruined shell of a mansion in the heart of 1960’s Paris that Bebo and his mate Pat restored into a fantasy castle, gathering materials from scrap yards and flea markets. The most memorable book of my childhood which I still treasure. My first impression of the interior of Woodchester Mansion reminded me of this book and I hope to instal some whimsical fantasy to counter balance and even exorcise some of the sadder elements of this floor-less architectural gem.” Paul Grellier