The Ecstasy Collection

The Prophets of Ecstasy

The Rapture & The Reckoning

The Prophets of Ecstasy is a pair of works entitled ‘The Rapture’ & ‘The Reckoning’.

Both panels depict a similar yet altered scene. The Rapture evokes the joy and pleasure experienced of taking MDMA, peace and love, rainbows in heaven. Whereas The Reckoning tells the tale of the judgement that befalls the sinner once they have left paradise. The rainbow has become a falling star, burning up on contact with the world.

The dove is both emblematic of the search for peace and the harbinger of a new era. It was also a very popular ecstasy pill.

Background:

These pieces were created for the Bear Cub Gallery exhibition ‘The Ark’ which took place in a church crypt in Clerkenwell, London in 2014. This was the first time Chemical X’s work went on public display. The Metropolitan Police attended the gallery but, due to a prior warning, the works were not on display at the time.

Year

2014

Size

Each panel is
W 685mm x H 1715mm
(27” x 67.5”)

Materials

Aluminium composite sheet, laser cut & etched cast acrylic, museum grade non-reflective, UV resistant cast acrylic. Over 10,000 pills, made from microcellulose, magnesium stearate and other materials. Embossed with dollars, smilies, love hearts, Mitsubishis, doves, Rolexes, clubs, yin yangs and stars.