Kiki Smith was inspired to create her large-scale tapestries following a visit to the Apocalypse Tapestry in Angers, France in 1976. The tapestry, spread over a number of sections that originally totalled 90 scenes, depicts the story of the Apocalypse from the Book of Revelation by Saint John the Divine. It was produced between 1377 and 1382.
We were delighted to be joined at the gallery by Oxford University’s Professor of Medieval German, Henrike Lähnemann at the opening of Kiki Smith’s exhibition on 27 September 2019. In this #MAO360 video, Henrike introduces us to some of the symbolic links between Kiki’s works and the medieval German tapestries she researches.
Interested in how medieval art, symbolism and culture have been a source for modern and contemporary artists? Join Professor Robert Mills at Modern Art Oxford on 16 January 2020 for his insightful talk which explores the medieval inspiration behind Kiki Smith’s Jacquard tapestries and behind contemporary art more generally. Book tickets here.