Exhibition overview:
What is a portrait? A painting or photograph, a film, a representation? Portraits are more than just images.
Portraits are everywhere, on the money in our wallets, the letters we write and the records we buy. They transmit the power of important people, decorate our homes and help us remember loved ones. There are more portraits taken today then in any other point in history and more ways then ever to identify an individual; our image, our words, our signature, our finger prints, our D.N.A. In a world obsessed by images of self, this exhibition explores what can be meant by the word portrait.
From conventional examples such as paintings, photographs and busts; to diaries, death masks and finger prints, explore Saffron Walden Museum’s varied collections and discover how portraits have been used throughout the centuries, from Ancient Egypt to today. The exhibition will also bring together new objects as part of a project to create a portrait of Uttlesford now, reflecting the diverse lives of the people that call the district home.
These new objects include over 60 life casts of the fingers/hands of members of the public, capturing their identity not only from their fingerprints but also their life’s story as shown through scars, callus, jewellery, injuries and arthritis.
The Museum has worked with a number of community groups on the project including Come Together, a brand new intergenerational theatre initiative set up by Saffron Hall earlier this year.
Rachel Yates – Artistic Director of their first project The Lost Letters explains- "Everyone has a story to tell, every face has a history, and through our first project we brought together over fifty people of all ages and backgrounds from Saffron Walden to explore what makes us- us. We started by writing a letter that began with.."dear friend, to look at me you’d think that…"this task is designed to uncover tales and dispel the many intergenerational myths we can form about each other. Our time together has proved that when we use an artistic process such as this, one that asks us to find out about each other, beyond the surface, we form lasting and important friendships, improve wellbeing and instil a sense of belonging. I am delighted that our project has inspired aspects of this new exhibition, and hope this is the beginning of a lasting partnership.
Portraits are everywhere, on the money in our wallets, the letters we write and the records we buy. They transmit the power of important people, decorate our homes and help us remember loved ones. There are more portraits taken today then in any other point in history and more ways then ever to identify an individual; our image, our words, our signature, our finger prints, our D.N.A. In a world obsessed by images of self, this exhibition explores what can be meant by the word portrait.
From conventional examples such as paintings, photographs and busts; to diaries, death masks and finger prints, explore Saffron Walden Museum’s varied collections and discover how portraits have been used throughout the centuries, from Ancient Egypt to today. The exhibition will also bring together new objects as part of a project to create a portrait of Uttlesford now, reflecting the diverse lives of the people that call the district home.
These new objects include over 60 life casts of the fingers/hands of members of the public, capturing their identity not only from their fingerprints but also their life’s story as shown through scars, callus, jewellery, injuries and arthritis.
The Museum has worked with a number of community groups on the project including Come Together, a brand new intergenerational theatre initiative set up by Saffron Hall earlier this year.
Rachel Yates – Artistic Director of their first project The Lost Letters explains- "Everyone has a story to tell, every face has a history, and through our first project we brought together over fifty people of all ages and backgrounds from Saffron Walden to explore what makes us- us. We started by writing a letter that began with.."dear friend, to look at me you’d think that…"this task is designed to uncover tales and dispel the many intergenerational myths we can form about each other. Our time together has proved that when we use an artistic process such as this, one that asks us to find out about each other, beyond the surface, we form lasting and important friendships, improve wellbeing and instil a sense of belonging. I am delighted that our project has inspired aspects of this new exhibition, and hope this is the beginning of a lasting partnership.
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