GAVIN TURK: IN SEARCH OF ARIADNE

Thu 6 October 2022 - Sun 5 February 2023

The Heong Gallery

To coincide with the permanent installation of Gavin Turk’s 'Ariadne Wrapped', a new sculpture outside Cambridge Rail Station, this exhibition unpacks the questions inspired by the sculpture. The form of the sculpture is familiar from centuries of depictions of reclining forms from Michelangelo to Henry Moore. Turk uses this familiarity to subvert the viewers expectations. His Ariadne is under cover, forever hidden. Wrapped and secured with ropes, she seems to be in transit; between places; on her way. Like Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s wrapped objects and buildings, Turk’s wrapped sculpture brings form and volume into sharp focus by obscuring detail and specifics. In the vein of Man Ray’s surrealist masterpiece, 'The Enigma of Isidore Ducasse', Turk’s Ariadne also transforms a well-known form to one that is mysterious and unknowable. The exhibition at The Heong Gallery explores the metaphysical, art historical, and social underpinnings of Ariadne Wrapped, giving visitors the tools to unwrap and unpack the form, context, and narratives wrapped up in the sculpture.

‘The reclining figure is now a chrysalis transforming into something else’
– Gavin Turk

‘This is what underlies Gavin Turk’s statue, with a twist – because the outline of the famous Ariadne is clear enough, but she is wrapped up ... There she is, but you can’t actually see her! The message? Well, antiquity is still with us, but always a bit buried? Come to Cambridge and we will unwrap this for you?’ – Prof. Mary Beard

An instant enigma, sited in the ‘square’ outside Cambridge station, its form is inspired by De Chirico’s paintings, set against the station’s Italianate arches. ‘Ariadne Wrapped’ does that rare thing in public sculpture of activating the surrounding space, even reimagining all of Cambridge as a surrealist, dream city! – Andrew Nairne O.B.E. (Director, Kettle’s Yard)

‘At the point of installing a sculpture, the notion is that the sculpture will not be for everyone which is at odds at the point of creating the work.’- Gavin Turk

‘It is something to do with the male gaze and the idea of the binary, the passivity of the figure – as well as classical codes’ – Gavin Turk

Cost: FREE