Staff and students invited to The Object is Alive exhibition

British artist Matthew Darbyshire is working alongside University Professor Daniel Watt, to launch a new arts exhibition based on Polish theatre marker Tadeusz Kantor.

Tadeusz Kantor was an artist, painter and theatre director, renowned for his revolutionary theatrical performances in Poland and abroad.

For the exhibition, entitled ‘The Object is Alive’, Matthew has explored the extensive research conducted by Professor Watt from the School of the Arts, English and Drama on Kantor. He has been invited to Nottingham Castle Museum to create an exhibition.

In response to Kantor’s particular interest in the role and status of objects and how objects can be transformed from their standard forms of use, Matthew has re-imagined 14 objects and artefacts from across the Museum’s displays to articulate his similar interest in objects.

Matthew’s selections include an early 20th century Ghanaian wood carving, a Roman terracotta votive in the shape of a foot, an 18th century Nottingham salt-glazed bear jug and a World War One grenade from the Regimental museum.

The Object is Alive is the first in a series of upcoming exhibitions that actively explore the role of objects as discussed in Kantor’s writing and artistic outputs. It is part of a collaborative project with Loughborough University’s Radar programme.

Nick Slater, Director of Arts at the University, commented: “This is an exciting collaboration between Dr Dan Watt and three regional museums. The project will not only enable visitors to explore new work by an internationally recognised contemporary artist but also gain a knowledge of the work of Tadeusz Kantor, the focus of Dan’s research. I am very much looking forward to seeing Matthew Darbyshire’s response to items within the museum’s collection.”

The exhibition is running from 28 January – 14 May, with an exhibition preview taking place at Nottingham Castle Museum on the 27 January from 6 – 8pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. To book, please click here.

Following this, two other artists, Mike Cooter and Giles Round have been invited to develop new exhibitions utilising the collections of New Walk Museum and Derby Museum and Art Gallery. The project will also see a major symposium on Kantor being held at Loughborough University later this year.

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