Winchester Cathedral is delighted by the success of its first partnership with Messums, and artist Laurence Edwards. The exhibition, Borrowed Breath, which featured a series of bronze sculptures, attracted an impressive number of visitors spanning ages and backgrounds.
‘Experiencing Laurence’s modern bronze sculptures alongside medieval paintings was both refreshing and thought-provoking’ said Ollie Taylor, Head of Visitor Experience and Exhibitions. Of the partnership with Messums, Taylor said ‘Messums provided exceptional gallery support throughout; I’m looking forward to continuing our successful and fulfilling partnership.’
A standout moment of the exhibition was the Touch Tour, which enabled visually impaired visitor Keith Hatter to experience the sculptures through touch and sound. Fiona (pictured), who shares Keith’s passion for sculpture, played an integral role in the tour. Despite being profoundly deaf, Fiona read the artwork’s descriptions aloud for Keith, enhancing his experience while sharing their mutual passion for art.
‘I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to experience the exhibition. Without (the cathedrals) time and patience, I wouldn’t have fully appreciated Lawrence’s Glass Men as a 3D form’, Keith said.
‘It was a wonderful experience discovering the art together in different ways. It was an uplifting experience watching Keith piecing together a hidden image though texture & form whilst I verbalised the written descriptions’, Fiona said.
Borrowed Breath also garnered a range of national, regional, and local media coverage. Winchester film students created a news segment, interviewing visitors who shared their positive feedback. The Times ran a photo story featuring Dean Catherine interacting with the sculptures, while Fabulous magazine from The Sun visited to cover the exhibition. Additionally, The Hampshire Chronicle published an article showcasing the stunning photographs taken by Cathedral Guide Simon Newman.
The next major exhibition, Whales, arriving 22nd January 2025, marks the second collaboration between Winchester Cathedral and Messums, and the first with artist Tessa Campbell Fraser. Whales brings three monumental sculptures of sperm whales suspended in the Cathedral’s Nave.
Of the exhibition, The Very Reverend Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester, said: ‘Bringing Tessa Campbell Fraser’s Whales to Winchester Cathedral will connect the awe and wonder of God’s creation with a building expressing human longing for connection, human and divine. We will inevitably be led to reflect on our connection with creation and all God’s creatures and the call to live in harmony and justice. Whales are familiar yet mysterious and wonderfully ‘other’. The Whales at Winchester Cathedral will create a richly evocative and unforgettable experience for us all.’
This installation will be accompanied by a full programme of events, including two silent discos for adults and children, as well as a series of shanty concerts- one of which is already nearly sold out. To read more and book your tickets, please visit the cathedral website. https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/event/whales/
