Mercurious

An installation work, with voiceover from the Aurelia Occulta (Theatrum Chemicum, 1659), a text dealing with aspects of Mercury, or mercurius, one of the most important and intangible of all alchemical concepts. A consideration of the mercurial nature in us all, and a mysterious encounter with feathers. Within alchemy, the rising of the spirit vapour from heated mercury was often depicted using images of feathers. Quicksilver, cinnabar, the winged messenger, Hermes: this is a vaporous spirit, elusive and hard to grasp, the aerial principle of flight and disembodiment.