Rise and Fall of a Temple, a major exhibition at Chelsea Space by artist Eva Sajovic that invites audiences to reconsider the idea of ‘empire’ and its continued relevance in contemporary society.
The exhibition has developed from Sajovic’s 2024-25 fellowship with the British School at Rome where she researched the systems and structures of the Roman Empire and their lasting impact.
Sajovic, who is also a Senior Lecturer in BA (Hons) Graphic Design at Camberwell College of Arts, UAL, was the first ever recipient of the UAL Fine Art Research Fellowship at BSR, which is set to continue.
With a range of vibrant new artworks including sculpture, knitted tapestries, tufted wall and floor works, embroidery and ceramics, Rise and Fall of a Temple places ancient imperial systems side by side with contemporary “pillars” of modern society – from political systems to increased economic globalisation and cultural norms. By placing ancient and contemporary power structures in dialogue, the audience is asked to question how empire continues to shape the world we live in and how the ruins of empires might be reimagined as tools for empathy, renewal and collective dialogue in the 21st century.
The exhibition will be activated through a series of participatory events at Chelsea College of Arts, including a collective act of building and deconstructing a temple using sustainable materials, inviting visitors to take part as active collaborators. Central to this event are the voices of practicing historians and astrologers – roles that were once held in high regard in past empires, particularly in Rome, whose contributions will feed into the building of the temple and mirror the roles they historically fulfilled.
Alongside her body of new work, Sajovic will also present a short film developed at the British School at Rome that shares the same name as the exhibition.
Shot on Super 8, hand-developed in caffenol and later digitised, the film reflects on notions of ‘before and after’.
It brings together footage of ancient Roman ruins with a performance in which a procession of messengers carries fragments of a temple through the gardens of the British School at Rome, assembling it on the porch before allowing it to collapse.
Throughout the exhibition run, Rise and Fall of a Temple will feature an accompanying programme of free to attend events.
Chelsea Space, 16 John Islip St, London, SW1P 4JU.
Booking and full details: https://www.arts.ac.uk/whats-on/eva-sajovic-rise-and-fall-of-a-temple
