An exhibition of life-like sculptures created by a world-renowned artist is set to open in and around Ely Cathedral.
The thought-provoking art pieces are part of a new exhibition by British artist and sculptor Sean Henry.
Curated by visual arts advisor Jacquiline Creswell, Am I My Brother’s Keeper prompts reflection on the extent to which individuals may support each other.
It can be interpreted as an enquiry into one’s moral responsibility toward others.
Sean Henry presents over 25 hand-painted terracotta and bronze figures, which will populate the vacant plinths, tombs and niches situated throughout the cathedral.
His life like figures are of varying size from 38cm up to 3m in height, they capture the human form with compassion, depicting the emotions, struggles and joys that define us as human.
Sean says: “We don’t know who they are, and while the figures might seem familiar and, I hope, emotionally present, the ambiguity around their status is an important part of how and why we engage with them.”
Sean Henry’s work has been exhibited worldwide including Europe, Australasia and the US.
Many of his sculptures have been installed in a number of locations across the globe from the Artic Circle in Norway to the South Island of New Zealand.
Since 2015, his sculpture of Sir Tim Bernes Lee, founder of the World Wide Web, has been part of the permanent collection in the National Portrait Gallery.
He has been represented by the Osborne Samuel Gallery in London since 1999.
Am I My Brother’s Keeper runs from April 26 through to September 1 and is included in the cathedral admission ticket.
The exhibition will be formally opened by The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP, secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport in May.
For more information and cathedral admission tickets, visit www.elycathedral.org
For more information about the artist, visit www.seanhenry.com
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