To celebrate Black Chapel, designed by Theaster Gates Serpentine has co-published a catalogue with Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König. Richly illustrated and designed by New York-based designer Joseph Logan, this publication brings together exciting new writing from the fields of architecture, art and music to reflect on Gates’ Pavilion and his wider practice. It includes contributions by Jayden Ali, Jareh Das, Ryan Dohoney and Theaster Gates, Sir David Adjaye OM OBE and Hans Ulrich Obrist introduces the artist’s practice and traces the research, development and ideas behind the Pavilion.
The publication includes images of Black Chapel, the tar paintings and bell sculpture which were part of it, and visual documentation of live events that took place in the Pavilion over summer 2022. Performances ranged from experimental music to choral concerts, while workshops that centred the sacred offered space for reflection and convening.
Alongside photography of the artist’s past works and projects, the publication includes a collection of images compiled by Theaster Gates of places, buildings, objects and rituals which influenced the design of the Serpentine Pavilion 2022 Black Chapel. Together, these images give insight into the design process and the artist’s practice.