Akeldama (Aramaic: field of blood) is the Aramaic name for a place in Jerusalem associated with Judas Iscariot. The earth in this area is composed of rich clay and was formerly used by potters. For this reason the field was known as the Potter's Field. The clay had a strong red colour, which may be the origin of the modern name.In my work under the title ο Αγρός του Κεραμέως “the potter’s field” I have tried to investigate the relationship between history and economic history, the dialogue between the illusory representation of the world through art and the illusory representation through digital media.Ιn the history of Judah who returned the thirty pieces of silver from remorse there is a conflict of history and economy that leaves its red traces in the soil. According to the Gospel of Matthew (27:7, and with allusions to Zechariah 11:12-13 and Jeremiah 18:2-3 and 32:6-15) Judas
returned the money to the Temple authorities. Deeming it as blood
money, and therefore illegal to put into their treasury, they used it
instead to buy the field as a burial ground for foreigners: thus the
place gained the name "the Field of Blood".Thinking about European history and the leftovers of the devastating economic and political practices on the landscape, I started working this piece. What first came into my mind was that the dust of history is red like the potter’s field. I followed the practice of constant displacement passing from the history to history’s traces on landscape. I continued with building the landscape in a digital environment and finally clothed it with photographed originally painted surfaces.The result is a landscape that resembles concentration camp remains or an abandoned factory. The viewers are free to make their own interpretation.
The work is made of 2 shots on the “Potter’s Field”: the pure chromatic surfaces and within a digital imaginary environment.
Christos Apostolakis 2012
