The Holburne Museum and ICIA, University of Bath, are to present a new exhibition The Nameless Grace by artist Holly Davey at the Holburne Museum from October to January.
In 1882 Mary Anne Barbara Holburne bequeathed her brother’s collection of over 4000 objects, pictures and books to the people of Bath, intended to form ‘the nucleus of a Museum of Art for the city of Bath.’
She never married, and lived with her brother along with her two unmarried sisters in Cavendish Crescent, Bath.
When artist Holly Davey was invited to undertake a period of research within the museum’s collections, she developed a fascination for the three Holburne sisters, especially Mary Ann Barbara (1802-1882), the last of the Holburne family line.
Working with objects from the collection and research surrounding the period, Davey’s installation at The Holburne Museum blurs the boundaries between fact and fiction, encouraging the audience to reflect on and reanimate the hidden and largely forgotten existence of these women’s lives.
There will also be an associated talk, Mélanges: Memory, Object and the Archive on Friday 17 Oct, 7.30pm at The Holburne Musuem.
Artist Holly Davey will be in conversation with Hannah Firth, Director of Visual Arts and Programme Development, Chapter Art Centre, Cardiff.
Discussing the processes of working with a collection in relation to contemporary art practice, they will talk about unearthing an archive, the meaning of objects and our personal and collective memories in relation to the question ‘what is real?’.
Holly Davey is an artist working with ideas surrounding memory, object and archive. Since graduating from Goldsmiths College, London in 1998, she has exhibited widely in solo and group exhibitions in the UK and internationally.
The Exhibition is free. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm and 11am – 5pm Sundays and Bank Holidays
For further information call The Holburne Museum 01225 388569 or ICIA 01225 386777 – http://www.holburne.org/www.bath.ac.uk/icia
The Artist Talk is £10, £8 Concessions. Tickets only available via The Holburne Museum (Tel 01225 388569)
