CAVAN MCLAUGHLIN

Exhibition Screening of Kyrie Eleison by Denigrata

Kyrie Eleison is the first single from Denigrata’s compelling debut album. Denigrata know that their styling and their music speaks very much for itself and are wisely sparing, with their self-explication. What they do say packs a punch and likewise sets the entire tone for this collaborative audiovisual intrepretation of their work, so it is worth repeating here: “Denigrata are an ambient, tech-fuelled black metal collective […] born from nihilism, avant-garde darkness and filth.” And so this film is an equally avant-garde, dark, visual exploration of these themes, fully grounded — in filth.

Featuring a cameo from author and magus, Alan Moore, the primary setting is the very peculiarly British natural surroundings of Delapré Abbey’s public parks. The location is really one of the players, and plays the part of Wyrd Northampton’s chthonic and earthy underbelly. The film focuses on contrast and interplay in all of its aspects. From the black and white grade, to the contrast of extreme close up (ECU) textural photography against the barren and bleak wide shots; the interplay of long, slow, lingering shots and furiously rapid montages and jarring jump cuts. It is non-narrative and non-linear. Abstract and unconsciously meaningful.

In short, it is an experimental piece of collaborative audiovisual art that seeks to knowingly add to the occultural reservoir.

Cavan McLaughlin is a broadcaster, creative media practitioner and Senior Lecturer in Media Production at the University of Northampton with research interests around the role of spirituality and occultism in contemporary visual culture. He is particularly fascinated by Western Esoteric symbolism and themes found in popular, surrealist and avant-garde narrative film and promotional music videos.

He is a practicing freelance filmmaker, graphic designer, editor, producer and director. As a media professional of some 14 years, he has been involved in almost all aspects of audiovisual production, specialising in promotional music videos and album sleeve artwork. His music videos have been broadcast on various digital satellite channels including Kerrang! TV, Scuzz and Redemption TV (now Rockworld TV).