Dates: 29 June – 13 August
Where: St John’s Anglican Cathedral, 373 Ann St, Brisbane City, Queensland
Opening: Thursday 11 July, 6.30–8.30pm. The opening night will feature classical music performances by Amalia Safonov (vocalist and flautist) and Artemii Safonov (pianist and composer).
RSVP: 0410 197 946
Sailing to Byzantium is an exhibition that blends the sacred art of the Early Renaissance and Byzantine periods with themes from William Butler Yeats’ poem. Hosted at historic St John’s Anglican Cathedral in Brisbane, this collection of recent paintings and sketches invites you on a journey through faith, history, and artistic expression.
The exhibition’s title comes from W. B. Yeats’ poem, ‘Sailing to Byzantium’, which speaks of the quest for eternal beauty and spiritual transcendence. In the poem, Byzantium symbolizes an ideal world of artistic and intellectual perfection, a place where the soul finds peace beyond the physical. This idea connects deeply with the spiritual essence of early Christian art, where every detail holds profound religious meaning.
As someone who has been studying the history of art extensively, I am captivated by the intricate, aspiring abstract designs and joyful colours of this historical period. The luminous golds, vibrant blues, and rich reds are not just decorative but symbolize divine light and the heavenly realm. Each piece in this exhibition is a modern tribute to the craftsmanship and spiritual depth of ancient iconographers and Renaissance masters, aiming to inspire faith and devotion.
Through this collection, I hope to bridge the past and present and invite you to reflect on the enduring power of sacred art. By reimagining these traditional motifs, I aim to create a dialogue between the ancient and the modern, much like Yeats’ poetic journey to Byzantium.
The exhibition invites you to embark on your own voyage of discovery and contemplation. I hope you will enjoy it!
If you’d like to know more about my Christianity-inspired paintings, check out this article.
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Art/s and Theology Australia 
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