Imogen Stuart, Firhouse, Dublin

"My idea is to give the impression that I was in possession of the actual cross on which our Lord was crucified and that I cut and carved these fourteen stations from it"

Imogen Stuart commenting on her work in the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Firhouse 

Imogen Stuart accepted the commission for a full set of Stations of the Cross for a new church in Firhouse in Dublin; 'Our Lady of Mount Carmel', built in 1979. The church is in cruciform shape – with four gardens  - and is hidden behind a perimeter wall, the cross on the roof of the building just visible.

The photo above shows the interior of the church with seven of the fourteen stations on the wall behind the seats. The church is constructed with brick and ceiling-to-floor glass walls bringing the gardens inside the modern building. Imogen would have accessed the space before starting the commission and studied the light – where was it coming from, the proximity of the impending work to the congregation, the condition of the wall, the weight of the wood. 

The Stations are carved from teak; some have minimal carving to describe the station and others are more elaborate. Imogen has several Stations of the Cross cycles in churches in Ireland using different media - for example in Dundalk she used iron, steel, in Mayo, painted wood. Throughout these Stations, the artist is using hands to express emotion; the emotion of grief, sadness, despair. Two examples of this are shown in the image above in the first and second Stations (l - r), Jesus is condemned to death and Jesus takes up the Cross.

For the fifth Station - Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the cross - a man, Simon, is taken out of the crowd and instructed to help to carry the cross some of the journey. 

Imogen has turned the wood to a horizontal position to emphasise the two hands that carry and support that heavy burden. A simple but effective way to show what's happening in this Station.

The eighth Station – Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem – the women are weeping for the suffering Jesus. The three women are shown with their heads close together, their hands held up in despair.

My purpose is to help the praying person to look at the stations in a fresh light – to shock and help them meditate on the mysteries presented.

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The Parish of Firhouse Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Stations of the Cross by Imogen Stuart, Columba Press, 2001