ABSTRACT
In this chapter Sheila Gallagher opens the door on the creative processes that underpin and inspire her practice, particularly her engagement with mystical texts from across religious traditions. Gallagher describes the dance between apophasis and kataphasis – between transcendence and immanence – that she sees within her much of her work, such as the piece Pneuma Hostis. This piece is made of used cigarette butts – both her own and those of others – crafted into a Eucharistic host. Gallagher describes the ‘word-image play’ between the ‘kataphatic medium’ of the material with which she works and the viewer-artist relationship to which the term ‘hostis’ (host, guest, enemy) draws attention. Gallagher also creates art using smoke, which offers only a trace of materiality and the actor. Whether created out of ‘melted bit of trash’, or smoke, Gallagher aims to evoke wonder that puts us into play. She stresses that such play is essential if wonder is to be cultivated into a metaphorical meaning-making discourse.
