Naomi Blacklock

Naomi Blacklock presents her performance, Aflame, A Singing Sun (2019), the residue of which will remain in the gallery space. Blacklock’s enactments often include natural elements, such as turmeric or dirt, and sound recordings of reverberated movements of her body upon a mirror.

Aflame, A Singing Sun is conceived as a healing space for personal power and calls upon the history of individuals seeking self-sovereignty. A golden ring of fire rendered on the alcove wall frames the space and directly references a Hindu motif, the Prabhavali. Regularly positioned around artistic depictions of deities, these halos of fire symbolise a cycle of creation and destruction.

In her performance, Blacklock positions her body behind a large golden gong and activates the sun, a symbol of life and death, through the gong percussions hitting her body. Recent data reveals that the flames from the sun’s surface metallically vibrate, emitting a low and pulsing frequency, like a gong.¹ In alchemy, the sun’s energy possesses the same qualities as fire. Witches are masters of fire – they brew potions and concoct spells over fiery flames. Blacklock’s use of charcoal in the performance echoes similar sentiments, as charcoal speaks of fire, smoke, and heat. Moreover, while charcoal is used for healing purposes, it can also be poisonous.²

Blacklock approaches the figure of the witch as a channel to move through, rather than a trope to appropriate from. By placing her body in the work, Blacklock controls her image, concealing and revealing herself. The ritualised performance and resulting residue of Aflame, A Singing Sun emerge simultaneously and speak of the sun’s spirit – its mythology, its matter, its power.³