Click the second image to listen to an excerpt from Christus Tantasticus.

Title: Christus Tantasticus

Year: 2013

Instrumentation: Solo Piano 

Duration: 8'30"

Winner of the Dinah Wolfe Memorial Prize 2013, presented by Nicole Lizée and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Inspired by a highly controversial photographic work by Andres Serrano depicting a crucifix plunged into a glass of orange-coloured liquid, Christus Tantasticus follows the process of tanning via the ancient method of submerging the hide in urine to preserve the skin. The piece takes its title from a baroque form known as “Stylus Fantasticus” – a style closely related to fantasias but is individualized by short contrasting improvisatory episodes and is free in form. In conjunction with this style, the modern take on tanning now involves the dyeing and darkening of one’s skin via products such as Tantastic; thusly Christus Tantasticus is inspired by a visualization of Serrano tanning an image of Jesus in urine to preserve him whilst also giving him a fantastical fake tan. Taking its material and structure from the tanning process – the idea is to convey a sense of submergence, pounding, drying and the production of a new product. This relates to the idea that Serrano takes the statue of Jesus and turns it into a new product through his art.