The Window at St. Monica's.

The Window at St. Monica's  Tom Cullen Acrylic on canvas 21x15cm 2020

Stain Glass...Memories...Vivid Colours.. Heavenly feelings.. A sense of timelessness.. These were my earliest recollections of the stain glass windows of my local Dominican church in Dublin. I was about two or three years old. Some years later, as a boy I would visit the nearby Hugh Lane Gallery and be absorbed by the work of Harry Clarke and Evie Hone whose work was shown in a darkened room dedicated to artists who worked in the medium of stain glass.

Close up Nativity Window, St Monica's

St. Monica's Church is located in Palmers Green, North London. It was built in 1914 and the stain glass windows were installed in the late 1920's following an anonymous donation. They are the work of Franz Mayer of Munich and London. There are five windows in the nave and an additional in the Sacred Heart Chapel to the left. These depict the life of Jesus from birth to resurrection.

The window nearest to to the front of the church depicts the traditional nativity scene. We see the Holy Family - Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus surrounded by the Magi and two shepherds. The Magi commonly known as the "Three Wise Men" were noble pilgrims from the East to whom it is said  followed the light of a guiding star, leading them to the place where Jesus was born. In the western churches they are given the names of Melchior, Caspar and Balthazer.

Full view Nativity Window

In recent times, I have sat and spent some time with this particular window.  As an abstract artist, I am pulled in by the vivid colours which have sustained for a hundred years or so. Ultramarine blues, vermillion and deep reds, peppermint greens which contrast with burnt sienna's, lilacs, yellows and oranges painted in a way we can almost touch real gold. Around this nativity scene, I see shepherds, one holding a stick, the other grasping a sheep swung around his neck. An ox and a donkey show their faces, olive trees enhance the background left. To the right, the star of Bethlehem shines brightly with a beam that touches the Magi's halo. We experience this birth with a sense of harmony between humankind and all earthly things.

Detail from The Window At St. Monica's

This year has been far from harmonious for most of us. The contagious and deadly coronavirus has resulted in 61.4 million cases and 1.4 m deaths worldwide to date. We have lived a life of face masks, lockdowns and separation. Families have lost love ones, people have lost jobs. There seemed little hope until last month when three new vaccines were announced.

Above: Detail 

So, when I look through this window at St. Monica's and I see some light shining through, I sense some hope for the future. I started this small acrylic painting in August. Inspired by the mark the window left inside of me, it remained unfinished up to last month. It has several layers underneath. I had given up totally until I decided to mask off  two horizontals and paint the red glaze. As I lifted the masking tape the underlying colours shone through. It had worked and my memory of the window at St. Monica's was complete.

It is worth remembering the Magi quietly avoided Herod on their return when they knew he could not be trusted. The light of the star had got them to their destination and on their return they followed the internal "light" of their spirit.

So, I hope this painting inspired by the window at St. Monica's brings light and hope for better things to come this Christmas.

A Bright Yellow Light

The Yellow Paintings Series No1 Acrylic on Canvas 46x35cm

Somewhere, between last Christmas and the New Year, I came across a programme on BBC Radio 4 called "A Bright Yellow Light". I assumed at this time of year, it was a usual Christmas religious broadcast. But, no, this was something very different. It was an extraordinary interview with Nadim Ednan Laperouse, father of the girl Natasha who had tragically died from an allergic reaction, after eating a sandwich containing sesame seeds at an airport cafe in 2018.

The Yellow Paintings Series No2 

I was familiar with the incident. It had gained widespread media coverage and has culminated in "Natasha's Law" being prepared for legislation next year- which insists that all active ingredients are listed on all pre-packaged food.
However, this was the first time that Natasha's father spoke about a very unusual religious experience which occurred as she passed away. He describes, "A strong soft yellow light appeared, like candle light- really intense but not that your eyes would squint. In great detail these five figures like thin people with features like you or I appeared with wings on their backs. I never saw anything like that in my life, I never expected to. I whooshed them all away. It dawned on me she might die. I shouted "It's not her time!" As I did that, they were gone and Natasha died. There was nothing more that could be done."

The Yellow Paintings Series No3

Nadim Ednan Laperouse goes on to say "Afterwards I know I was meant to see them. I was not a believer at all - someone too full of himself, too arrogant a man really, coming from a business world where people say "I will make myself what I want to be in my own strength". The whole situation showed I was very weak and unable to do anything for my own family. In my lowest moment, that is where God sent the angels for me to see, to tell me that is okay."

He accounts seeing the yellow light a second time - the day Prime Minister, Theresa May mentioned in public his daughters name, Natasha. " I was crying and giving thanks to God. Suddenly the whole room lit up as if someone put the light on, but not normal light. It was this soft yellow light again. It was God saying "I hear you my child". It made me feel , I have a father, someone stronger than me, with no ego like me".

The Yellow Paintings Series No4

It is hard for anyone, even of faith to believe in apparitions like this. But there was something deeply
moving and spiritual in this story which would not leave me after I listened to the interview. From this place, I began the "Yellow Paintings Series" last month. The colour yellow in art often signifies joy, hope and possibility. It symbolises freshness, happiness, positivity and enlightenment. I am reminded of the intense yellows Van Gogh used in his paintings, the transparency of Rothko's colour field paintings and the warmthness of the Eliasson Weather Project - the large sun installation of the Tate Modern in 2003.

The Yellow Paintings Series No5

As I progressed with the series, I became aware the worldwide coronavirus epidemic was no longer "out there" but now on my doorstep here in the UK. Fortunately, during lock down, I had enough paint and canvas in storage to complete these five small pieces. I write this in self isolation now with mild symptoms. There has never been a time where we need hope for the future and to feel there is a "Bright Yellow Light", shining for each one of us. I hope, therefore, the paintings emanate some positive energy for all of us.

In memory of Natasha Ednan Laperouse 2003- 2018

                    

The interview of Nadim Ednan Laperouse by Emily Buchanan is available at:

 www.bbc.co.uk>programmes 
 A Bright Yellow Light - BBC radio 4