Apocalypse Now

Christopher Wool

In the shadow of the 1987 Black Monday stock market crash, Wool’s Apocalypse Now became the painting of the decade. Taking the quotation from Captain Colby’s letter home in Francis Ford Coppola's war epic, Wool distorts the phrase, removes the emotion or madness inherent in the original and presents with telegraphic urgency. By removing punctuation, correct spacing and line alignment, he forces the view to work to translate the text into a coherent phrase. Wool’s piece is cold and direct, a hiccup in the comprehension adding to a feeling of the untethered. He captures the fear and euphoria of the 1980s, and of the periods that have come after by combining a dark sense of unease with high-flying success.

Wednesday 21st October

Our waxing Moon crosses the threshold from Capricorn into Aquarius, associated with air and light, which biodynamics connects with the flowering and blossoming aspect of the plant. This offers an image of light reaching into the etheric world. The symbolism of planetary retrogrades invites reflection on turbulent times: unfinished tasks, loose ends and old patterns asking for our attention. To step more fully into the light, we may first need to acknowledge the shadow beside us, including those parts of ourselves that remain unconscious. With patience and honesty, we can begin to work through these, finding our way towards the light, where Aquarius shines.