The British Museum has one of the world’s most
celebrated and diverse collections of sculpture, dating from
prehistory to the present day. Since its foundation in 1753, the
Museum has consistently engaged with the contemporary world, both
in its collecting and its displays.
These two themes are brought together in
Statuephilia, for which five of Britain’s
leading artists have contributed a sculpture responding to these
world-famous collections. Renowned British sculptor Henry Moore
spoke of ‘the delight, the excitement, the inspiration’ he received
from his visits to the British Museum, and this remains true for
the sculptors of today.
Antony Gormley and Ron Mueck are represented
here by monumental sculptures, Marc Quinn premieres a dazzling gold
statue of Kate Moss, while Damien Hirst and Noble and Webster
have created provocative new works inspired by the Museum’s
collections. These five installations show how our understanding of
modern art can be deepened by placing it in an historic, global
context and reveal just how relevant the art of the past is to
today.
Statuephilia
encourages us to look afresh at both modern and ancient art, to
explore the similarities as well as differences between eras and
cultures, and to remind ourselves of the perennial power of
sculpture.
Related display
British sculptors’ drawings: Moore to
Gormley
Until 25 January 2009
Admission free, Room 90
Drawings by 20th-century British sculptors including Henry
Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Antony Gormley, Marc Quinn and Damien
Hirst, all from the Museum’s collection.
For full Statuephilia press release