The Matter Of Life And Death will feature new works by acclaimed potter Julian Stair, in response to ceramics from York Museums Trust’s collection.
Julian said the theme of the exhibition is the life-affirming nature of the rituals of death and their place in human history.
Julian said: “In the last few thousand years art has changed significantly, but our perception of death and our reaction to people close to us dying has remained remarkably consistent.
“The artefacts relating to the rituals of death can be seen as window into the lives of our ancestors who used art and objects to help them try and come to terms with death just as we do today. We can still relate to these objects and be moved by them because the feelings which inspired their creation haven’t changed.”
They will be on open display in the apt surroundings of York St Mary’s, a church which dates back to the 13th Century and now the trust’s contemporary visual art venue
“It was a dream to be given the chance to work with the vast collections of York Museums Trust and then to create new works as a response,” Julian said.
Julian’s work has been exhibited all over the world including New York, Munich, Paris and Tokyo. It is known for its subtle palette of greys, reds and white as well as its variety of scale – from domestic to monumental. The scale of the objects he has chosen from the trust’s collections will reflect this. His works will be in stoneware, brick and clay.
- The Matter Of Life And Death will be on display at York St Mary’s from May 10 to July 7 and is free