On one of the walls just inside the entrance to Ely Cathedral there is a large modern sculpture of a cross.
On the North West Transept wall there is a magnificent sculpture called ‘The Way of Life‘ by Jonathan Clarke. One of three sculptures specially commissioned for the millennium, Jonathan Clarke’s The Way of Life is made of cast aluminium and has nine sections, each differently jointed. Like the journey of faith, its path is irregular and unpredictable; and just as the journey is sometimes hard, sometimes joyful, the surface texture and colour also vary. On the top arm you might be able to make out a minute human figure, someone who is perhaps on the journey.
Is there fairly new. To me it a free flowing look at following of Christ.
Coffee is on
I is a modern addition and it is supposed to show the pathway/following to Christ.
I was surprised to see this modern image.
Many of our Cathedrals have modern artwork additions. Some are better than others.
I am not over keen generally on modern sculpture but the one at Ely is rather beautiful.
I really like this one, it works where it is placed.
The placing of modern art is key to making it work.
Was it beside the main entrance?
I saw some temporary installation there too.
It was beside the main entrance. There wasn’t a temporary exhibition when we visited and the glass museum was closed due to renovation works on the Cathedral. It re-opened a few days after we left…
Yes, that’s right! I saw something different there last time.
Some sort of giant water hose illuminated in blue…
… too strange to have such thing there, perhaps?
That does sound a strange structure that you saw.
This ‘way of life’ sculpture is one of three sculptures commissioned for the millenium.
It looks like the river of life, rather than a pathway
I think that both can be the same thing. This sculpture conveys the spiritual journey.
River or path, it definitely is symbolic, Cherry, of something we all can recognize!
Yes, I think the sculpture portrays the message very well