Lea Porre

The Seven Lamps, John Ruskin’s foundational principles of architecture, encapsulate his endeavours to connect ethics with art and design, a relationship he championed as a forward-thinking art critic and 19th-century writer. The ‘lamps’, Sacrifice, Truth, Power, Beauty, Life, Memory, and Obedience, served as his framework for evaluating architecture, shaping not only his approach to buildings but also his broader philosophy of art and society. Ruskin’s significant influence on the Arts and Crafts Movement, his advocacy for environmental and historic preservation, and his belief that education should nurture both intellectual and moral development are central to his legacy.

The group show at Cornerstone Studios, Eat Work Art, draws from Ruskin’s deep connection to Camberwell, exploring his admiration for Gothic architecture and reverence for craftsmanship. The Seven Lamps aims to explore his other core areas of interest, such as the natural world’s connection to moral integrity. The participating artists will echo his philosophies through their work, emphasising the emotional resonance of materials and the moral value of labour. Themes including nostalgia and memory will also weave through the exhibition, resonating with Ruskin’s Seven Lamps of Architecture.

​

• I thought he was a legend (2019-24)