Ithell Colquhoun (1906-1988) was a British painter, poet, and occultist, long identified as a pioneer of the Surrealist movement in the UK. While her work is increasingly recognized for its mystical themes and innovative use of automatic techniques, deeply influenced by her esoteric studies, it also inspired extensive research on its broader cultural and spiritual contexts. Amy Hale, an anthropologist, folklorist, and author, has dedicated much of her career to exploring Cornwall, the fabled region of southwest England that became Colquhoun’s spiritual home. Hale’s book, Ithell Colquhoun: Genius of the Fern-Loved Gully, published by Strange Attractor Press, offers a profound biographical study of Colquhoun, examining the historical and spiritual forces that influenced her work. In this episode, she joins JF and Phil to discuss Colquhoun, Cornwall, and the transformative power of research and writing.
REFERENCES
Amy Hale, Ithell Colquhoun: Genius of the Fern-Loved Gully (https://bookshop.org/a/18799/9781907222863)
Agnes Callard, I Teach the Humanities, and I Still Don’t Know What Their Value Is (https://bookshop.org/a/18799/9781907222863)
Steven Feld, Jazz Cosmopolitanism in Accra (https://bookshop.org/a/18799/9780822351627)
Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus (https://bookshop.org/a/18799/9780525564454)
Lionel Snell, My Years of Magical Thinking (https://bookshop.org/a/18799/9780904311242) Special Guest: Amy Hale.