Living by the Rule

This unique and bold publication vividly stages an encounter between medieval and contemporary art with many unexpected resonances sounding between recent works and much earlier objects and texts.


Taking as their focus the Rule of St Benedict, a book written in the sixth century which provided monks with a framework for communal living, Jessica Barker and Ed Krcma invite readers to consider assumptions about contemporary life and how these beliefs might be unsettled by historical models, specifically medieval monastic life. Exploration of the rich material culture of religious communities of the Middle Ages throws up unexpected connections with contemporary art, and a reciprocity emerges, shifting our perspectives on both medieval and contemporary ways of life. Including outstanding artworks such as the Arundel and Gorleston Psalters, and works in a variety of media by celebrated contemporary artists, including Tacita Dean and Andrea Buettner, Living by the Rule makes a compelling case for looking beyond the chronological tracing of art history.