Crafted as Slater Bradley’s third solo show in Berlin, DRAGONSLAYER represents a culmination of his interest in cosmology, mysticism, and sacred geometry, all framed within a contemplative, multi-sensory experience.
DRAGONSLAYER builds on Bradley's installation SUNDOOR, exhibited at the church of Santa Maria Maddalena during the Venice Biennale in 2017, which consisted of an 888-piece rose quartz labyrinth. The title reflects on the alchemistic heritage of the church’s location and draws on the iconographies of Archangel Michael’s and St. George’s battles, symbolizing inner transformation and the triumph of light over darkness.
Spanning the 800-square-metre, 17th-century space, DRAGONSLAYER features two crystal floor sculptures and thirteen artworks, including four new Royal Star Shields inspired by historical pilgrimage sites, star constellations, and archangels. The dragon lying at the heart of the installation is the walk-through, 8-meterdiameter crystal labyrinth made of 1,200 kg of honey calcite and chevron amethyst crystals. It is designed by the artist to create a free energy vortex which is amplified by the alignment of surrounding works.
Slater Bradley, KETU, 2018 | Courtesy of Slater Bradley Studio, Berlin © Slater B. Bradley
Fine art, architecture, and music converge, as Bradley’s installation is elevated by a soundscape by his frequent collaborator, award winning pianist and composer Dustin O’Halloran. It features the Cristal Bascet, a rare glass instrument, and is inspired by Russian mystic Scriabin’s Prometheus chord, believed to unlock cosmic forces.
On Sundays, carillonist Anna Kasprzycka will create an improvisational performance guided by O’Halloran’s soundscape, utilizing the full range of the church tower’s fifty-two bells, extending DRAGONSLAYER’s radiance beyond the church walls into the heart of the city.
Slater Bradley, Regulus Royal Star Shield, 2024 | Courtesy of Slater Bradley Studio,Berlin © Slater B. Bradley
DRAGONSLAYER is Slater Bradley's third solo show in Berlin following Arndt & Partner (2002) and PSM Galerie (2010). Bradley's prophetic, pre-social media video installation The Doppelgänger Trilogy, conjured up the cults of dead rock stars and fallen heroes, and thrust him into the spotlight as the youngest male artist to receive a solo exhibition at the Guggenheim in New York in 2005. In a disappearing act, he relocated to Berlin just over a decade ago, delving into the intersection of art, mysticism, and consciousness.
Slater Bradley, Nix Olympica Dark Shield Volcano, 2023 | Courtesy of Slater Bradley Studio, Berlin© Slater B. Bradley
Slater Bradley, Olympus Mons Soul Shield Volcano, 2023 | Courtesy of Slater Bradley Studio, Berlin
Melissa Morgan Fine Art is proud to represent the visionary work of Slater Bradley, whose deeply contemplative practice explores themes of mysticism, identity, and transformation.
A selection of his powerful and thought-provoking pieces are currently available through the gallery.
We are also thrilled to announce his upcoming exhibition, opening January 2. This immersive presentation promises to be both visually striking and intellectually resonant.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Slater Bradley was born in 1975 in San Francisco. Recent solo gallery exhibitions include Martin Asbaek Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark (2023), Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Palm Desert, California (2021) and the group institutional exhibition Memory Palace in Ruins, Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab, Taiwan (2023).
Parochialkirche Facade | photo © Slater B. Bradley
The Parochial Church is the oldest church of the Reformed congregation in Berlin and a hidden gem in the Mitte district. This baroque building was constructed in the late 17th century on the former estate of the alchemist and glassmaker Johannes Kunckel (ca. 1630–1703). Inside its spacious interior, bare brick walls and a cross made of wartime scrap metal bear witness to the dramatic history of a church heavily damaged during World War II. After being deconsecrated following the construction of the Berlin Wall, the church now serves as a venue for cultural events and exhibitions. With its pleasantly tempered light streaming through large arched windows, the space offers a fitting setting for visitors to engage with questions of inner transformation.
Parochialkirche | Klosterstr. 67 | 10179 Berlin