Casting new light on the Classical world

The ‘Casting Light' exhibition features the work of three contemporary UK artists against the already impressive collection of Greek and Roman casts at the museum.

Among the displays are a selection of classically inspired sculptures by highly regarded Scottish sculptor Alexander Stoddart, recognised across Britain for his monuments such as the David Hume statue along the Royal Mile, Edinburgh and a scheme of architectural sculpture in the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

The second collection of oil and watercolour paintings by artist Paul Janssens depicts scenes such as the Roman Forum and Pantheon from a contemporary perspective and will capture the intricate architecture of the ancient buildings.

Janssens will also be running a workshop for children on Saturday 19 May, using a variety of materials including pen, charcoal and torn paper to make collages inspired by the cast gallery.

The third collection by ceramicist Ray Auker, which focuses on ‘tablets' and ‘stones,' studies how inscriptions transform the meaning of objects, using Latin, Greek and cuneiform script in his work as an alternative approach to understanding the classical world.

Dr Carrie Roth-Murray, who organised the display said: “The exhibition is a fascinating combination of both Classical Archaeology and contemporary art. The work of these three artists will enhance the impressive cast collection and show them in an imaginative new light.”

For instance Alexander Stoddarts's sculpture Diarmid O'Dyna will be placed next to the sculpture of Meleager, the cast of the Roman copy of the original statue, dating to 340BC, on which Stoddart's work is directly based.

The collection of the Museum of Classical Archaeology is made up of over 600 plaster casts of Greek and Roman sculpture. It houses the second largest collection of casts of Greek & Roman sculpture in the UK beside the Victoria and Albert Museum, and is one of the few surviving collections worldwide. All of the sculptures are accurate replicas cast from the originals, a painstakingly laborious process.

The gallery is open from 10-5 every weekday, and 10-1 on Saturdays; admission is free. For more information about the exhibition, which runs from 3 May – 1 June, and workshops call the Faculty of Classics on 01223 335153. Both workshops will be held in the Faculty of Classics, which houses the Museum, on Sidgwick Avenue. Alexander Stoddart's talk is aimed at anyone 16 years and above.