Carved in Stone - Set in Gold. Script in Sacral Space - The Latin West and Greek East in Comparison, Heidelberg University and Zoom, October 6–7, 2022
Writing is omnipresent in and around church buildings. Carved, chiseled, painted or set in gold tesserae it shapes and influences the perception and impression of the space. Various surfaces and different materials served as writing supports. Whether made of stone, glass, gold or other metals, the variety of materials and shapes was only limited by the wishes, imagination and financial resources oft he donor as well as by the technical skills and artistry of the craftsmen. Letters are not only found on facades or interior walls, but also on liturgical furniture, including the altar, liturgical devices as well as on various interior objects, for example on the numerous lamps and polycandela that illuminated the churches. The size and form range from monumental building and dedication inscriptions to precious tituli, artistic monograms and much more.
Writing was perceived, received and read. It had the potential to direct the gaze and movement of the visitor, it could explain and inform, inscribe sacredness as well as contribute to the overall impression of the building and the spatial effect. In order to make this possible, first certain requirements had to be created for the design and installation at the respective location. What form they have or can have and how they affect the text, the relationship between text and image, and the layout itself are just a few of the many questions that will be raised and discussed in the course of the workshop.
The workshop will take place in a hybrid format. Advance registration required. Registration closes September 30.