The British Museum has one of the world's most diverse sculpture collections including antiquities dating from prehistory and contemporary works from as far afield as Easter Island, Polynesia, China and India.
Statuephilia: Contemporary Sculptors at the British Museum
This extremely unusual exhibition explores the special place of sculpture throughout human history.
A selection of contemporary works from the Museum's collection is currently being exhibited together with sculptures contributed by leading British artists. All the artists concerned, Marc Quinn, Antony Gormley, Ron Mueck, Damien Hirst, Tim Noble and Sue Webster, have been inspired by sculptures at the British Museum. Contributing these pieces to the Museum is their way of saying "Thank you". The pieces are placed in such a way so as to create a fascinating juxtaposition with items in the Museum's permanent collection.
Ron Mueck
Ron Mueck's Mask II (mixed media 2001-2), a sleeping Self-Portrait, is located in the Living and Dying: Wellcome Trust Gallery alongside the Museum's colossal sculpture Maoi. Mask II, which resembles Mueck's own face, is a giant head lying on its side as if asleep. This was displayed at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh earlier this year.
Antony Gormley
Antony Gormley's Case for an Angel I, the precursor of Angel of the North, a major public sculpture, will be shown in the Front Hall of the Museum. Its 9-metre wingspan will fill the entire entrance! . A number of Gormley's drawings and prints are on display in the Museum's British Sculptors’ Drawings: Moore to Gormley, an exhibition running concurrently with Statuephilia.
Marc Quinn Premieres Kate Moss
The Nereid Gallery is the setting for Siren - Marc Quinn's solid gold statue of Kate Moss, shown for the first time at the British Museum. The supermodel, an icon of contemporary beauty, fits in well among the Greek beauties occupying this Gallery. The sculpture is reputed to be the largest gold statue created since Ancient Egypt. In addition, a study for a sculpture by Quinn can be seen in the Museum’s Prints and Drawings collection.
200 Skulls in the Enlightenment Gallery
200 specially created skulls fill the wall cases of the Enlightenment Gallery (formerly known as the King’s Library). Created by Damien Hirst, Cornucopia (2008), explores the artist's obsession with death.
Dark Stuff by Noble and Webster
Tim Noble and Sue Webster have worked together for many years, much of their work being collected by the collector, Charles Saatchi. Noble and Webster have created a brand new work inspired by the Museum's Egyptian Sculpture Gallery. According to Noble and Webster Dark Stuff (2008) is "assembled from our collection of naturally mummified animal parts, tiny little creatures teased and tortured by our feral farmyard cat, that when assembled will cast a shadow of our profiles onto the walls of the ancient Egyptian galleries”.
Public Events
A comprehensive programme of lunchtime lectures, gallery talks, debates and screenings of Channel 4's television series, Sculpture Diaries, will accompany the show. The exhibition will run until 25th January 2009 and full details can be obtained from the British Museum.
Source:
- British Museum, Press Release, 2008.
Frances Spiegel - Frances Spiegel, B.A. Hons. (Open)., Dip.Eur.Hum., read Art History/European Modern History at the Open University.
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