Incantations
Incantations is a series of pleather banners created by Karl Murphy, shown at both the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) and Colour Factory as part of INFERNO London’s programme. These banners serve as poetic reflections of the audience and their movements, responding to the energy of the space and viewers’ presence.
Using pleather as an unconventional material, Murphy explores themes of ritual, transformation, and the relationship between language and embodiment. The banners act as living texts dynamic, immersive works that engage with the viewer’s experience, blurring the boundaries between sculpture, poetry, and performance.
Incantations exemplifies Murphy’s interest in creating artworks that are both visually striking and conceptually rich, inviting contemplation of the body, identity, and community within queer cultural spaces.