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Awaiting the Rapture - The Open College of the Arts

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Awaiting the Rapture

Time passes, Tibbermore Church

“What do we think happens to us after we die?
Photography 3 student Duncan Astbury’s exhibition features a set of photographs that reveal an insight on how religious beliefs and faith in a life after death have shaped the Scottish landscape. Taken over a 2 year period, they include a variety of countryside locations, typically small parish churches and rural graveyards.
The Scottish landscape is commonly altered by the erection of objects associated with death – family burial grounds, mausoleums, graveyards, grave markers, graves, mortsafes, monuments and tombs. These objects are Christian in origin and speak of a belief in a Rapture, when the body will rise up from the earth. The photographs show how this belief has impacted our landscape over the last few centuries.”
Duncan has created a set of photographs with accompanying text in a hope to give some insight on one of the great questions universally faced. The exhibition is being held at the rural village of Abercorn on the edge of the Hopetoun Estate. It opens on Saturday 28th March and continues over the Easter weekend. Entry is free.
Visit Duncan’s blog here.


Posted by author: Edward

7 thoughts on “Awaiting the Rapture

  • I hope the exhibition is going well Duncan. It would be great to see your reflections on this at some point. I have enjoyed watching you develop this theme.

  • It’s proving interesting seeing the reactions to the photographs and seeing which ones are selling. I’ll do some in depth notes and reflections for my 4th assignment – Market Engagement, meanwhile I have several blog posts already detailing much of the preparations all the way up to getting the work hung.

  • Hi Duncan,
    I think I met you in Edinburgh on an OCA study visit (can’t remember which, but it wasn’t photography). Just wanted to say how much I love the “Rapture” portfolio. As someone who loves wandering round old graveyards, I enjoyed looking at your photos very much. I love the black and white “gothic” feel to them, and the air of mystery. Good luck with the exhibition.
    Anne MacLeod

  • Anne, yes we have met at one of the study days, although my primary interest is photography I do get some inspiration from painters and have found some cross-discipline study visits very enjoyable. I’m glad you like the “Rapture” photographs, they’re even more impressive when seen as large prints and there’s still one more day of the exhibition for any students who are tempted.

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