After a 250-year absence, the ‘Dictionary Desk’ of celebrated 18th century writer Samuel Johnson makes a historic return to his former abode, Dr Johnson’s House in the City of London.
London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE showcases a series of contemporary art commissions, responding and bringing fresh perspectives to the site’s archaeological history. Their current installation is 0.1% by Jonathan Baldock.
Drawing on the rich history of the Bloomberg site, home to the ruins of the Roman temple of Mithras, Jonathan Baldock’s 0.1% explores myths, legends, gods, rituals, and their influence on our lives. The British artist’s sculptural installations: formed from natural materials like hessian wool, clay, wood and metal, take influence from folklore and paganism.
Central to the installation is a personal relic of Baldock’s, the remnants of an early clay sculpture made for his mother. The supersized form will complete a monumental Mother Goddess sculpture, contrasting with the male-centric Mithras religion of the temple below.
“Stories of the past help us to understand the world, and foster connection.” explains Baldock “0.1% refers to the small genetic difference that unites humanity. The installation explores support structures and ideas of family, both biological and chosen, emphasising our interconnectedness and interdependence.” - Jonathan Baldock, b. 1980, Kent, UK
Jonathan Baldock has an ongoing focus on the contrast between the material qualities of ceramic and fabric in his work. Concerned with removing the functional aspects of the materials he uses, the artist instead works in a performative way through his sculptural assemblages
