Brother Pascal in Prayer (2006)
HDV colour/ sound. 3min 45sec
Brother Pascal, one of the few remaining Anglican Franciscan monks at a UK friary, took part in the video piece Brother Pascal in Prayer, whilst Zatorski + Zatorski were artists in residence at Durham Cathedral. Z+Z filled their Durham studio with canaries and goldfinches for a year, letting them fly freely amongst equipment and belongings, which the birds slowly modified. Franciscans believe that when praying they are having a direct conversation with Christ. Brother Pascal in Prayer is an unyielding video portrait of a Franciscan monk’s physically and emotionally exhausting daily spiritual exercise, which he undertakes whilst the birds interact with him.