Artists Gayle Chong Kwan, Caro Williams, Jon Street and Walid Siti will create exciting art commissions in Exeter city centre
Four artists have been chosen to create new artwork for Museum at Large, RAMM’s ambitious new project to bring inspiration from the Museum’s collection to the streets of Exeter. A national open call saw submissions from a range of innovative artists, reflecting the richness and variety of RAMM’s collection and its relevance to the city.
Museum at Large will lead a weekend of arts and culture activity in Exeter, working with partners such as the Northcott Theatre, the Phoenix and Princesshay shopping centre among others. Funded through an Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant, the artists, creative collaborators and museum professionals will create a vibrant programme of artistic activity, culminating in four temporary art commissions on show in the city centre from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 October 2021. Museum at Large will reconnect people with the city, history, and the museum’s collections, with works in a range of media — sound, light, sculpture, installation – encouraging Exeter’s residents and visitors to explore RAMM’s treasures in a fresh and exciting way.
The selection panel for the project included film-maker John Sealey, artist and writer Alistair Gentry, and RAMM’s contemporary art curator Lara Goodband.
Museum at Large artists
Gayle Chong Kwan’s commission will directly connect with RAMM’s important collection of Roman objects. An internationally-recognised multidisciplinary artist, Chong Kwan aims to bring Exeter’s Roman history to life through an outdoor performance which will wow city-centre visitors
She says: ‘I’m delighted to be working with such an exciting collection of museum objects. I am looking forward to exploring the relationship between people, objects and place with my work, and bringing this to the streets of Exeter.’
Known for her participatory projects in the public realm, Chong Kwan will work with specific groups of local people to produce a collaborative work that is unique to RAMM and the city.
Caro Williams’ commission is inspired by RAMM’s collection of bird specimens on display in the In Fine Feather gallery; Kurdish artist Walid Siti’s installation will stand at 3 meters in height, and will draw from RAMM’s collection of cuneiform tablets from Mesopotamia; and Jon Street will recreate a historical scene using a video projected on to buildings, allowing members of the public to engage directly with his work by ‘taking control’ of the performance.
Museum at Large is an Exeter-wide event led by RAMM, developed in collaboration with creative organisations, freelancers, community partners and local business networks. It will create a memorable shared moment in the year, using culture and creativity to help our city and communities recover from the impact of Covid-19, helping to re-establish our city as a place for discovery and exploration.
Museum at Large will take place 29-31 October. For more information about the project visit rammuseum.org.uk/museumatlarge
