2012 Annual Report - Jesus College - University of Cambridge

66 COLLEGE NEWS I Jesus College Annual Report 2012
Art at Jesus 2011-2012
Rod Mengham, Curator of Works of Art Emeritus Fellow
We started last year by taking down the very successful ‘Remembering Flanagan’
exhibition, the latest in our ‘Sculpture in the Close’ series. This show attracted
larger than usual numbers of groups requiring guided tours, and this is a feature of our
activities that seems to be intensifying. The Michaelmas term 2011 was memorable for
our superb exhibition of paintings by Humphrey Ocean. At Humphrey’s prompting,
we embarked on an innovative use of both public spaces and rooms inaccessible to the
general public. Our subsequent publication Here and There includes some excellent
photographs showing how various spaces were transformed. An unusual number of
visitors came to the College expressly to view this exhibition.
In June and July 2012, we showed drawings and sculpture by Michael Dan Archer in
the south transept of the Chapel, under the title ‘Tests Trials and Missions’. These works
explored ideas for sculptural installations focusing on the imagery of towers and boats.
Most intriguing of all was a sculpture and several drawings meditating on the interior
chambers of the Red Pyramid at Dahshur.
We are now planning for the forthcoming exhibition in October and November of a
selection of David Mach’s collages responding to the King James Bible. And planning is
well advanced for the next ‘Sculpture in the Close’ in the summer. This will include
sculptures by the internationally renowned artists Doris Salcedo, Miroslaw Balka and
Gabriel Orozco. The funding situation for this ambitious show is now auspicious,
but in the long run, the funding for the general run of our activities remains little short
of perilous.
James Hudleston generously funded the commissioning of a portrait bust of Jacob
Bronowski. This was installed by the artist, Robert Hunt, in the Quincentenary Library
during December. The subject’s daughter, Professor Lisa Jardine, was present at the
ceremony and was delighted by the sculpture. The College Council has recently
Professor Lisa Jardine and Mr James Hudleston at the unveiling of the Jacob Bronowski bust, December 2011