Presenting archaeological finds with contemporary artworks creates a show that could be interpreted in a number of different ways.
Within the show there are a number of possible or conflicting histories of objects and ideas, encouraging us to think of archaeological items in the contemporary and to investigate artworks as artefacts that are a remnant of the present.
How would we approach these items if found in the future, and does this affect how we approach a historic collection?
With works spread across five of the most historic sites in Lincoln, both sacred and secular, the catalogue provides an essential strand of interpretation that brings the show together.
Poetic archaeology
The publication includes an extended essay entitled Every Earth is Fit for Burial, which functions as a guide to the works in the exhibition and explains how every work and artist orientates within this.
The catalogue also includes images of the majority of the works in the show or, in the case of commissioned artists, images illustrating recent projects. These sit alongside shots of our stores from which many of the display strategies in the show originated.
Within the essay, the ideas of archaeologists such as Michael Shanks and Christopher Tilley are discussed.
They rejected the notion of archaeology as an objective practice, instead emphasising its poetic and subjective qualities. This idea mirrors the basis of the institution, which displays temporary art exhibitions and also has a permanent archaeology collection.
Sustainability
Our small team is always looking at ways to join up and work across the disparate collections.
Sustainability is something that we always keep in mind. We utilise offcuts from our designers and source end-of-run organic papers to produce our print affordably.
We are also concerned with the amount of wasted print so, for this show, alongside our gallery copies, we introduced a minimal £1 charge for the publication.
We believe this has created an affordable, sustainable artefact from the exhibition.
Ashley Gallant is the collection access officer (contemporary art) at The Collection, and Usher Gallery, Lincoln
Within the show there are a number of possible or conflicting histories of objects and ideas, encouraging us to think of archaeological items in the contemporary and to investigate artworks as artefacts that are a remnant of the present.
How would we approach these items if found in the future, and does this affect how we approach a historic collection?
With works spread across five of the most historic sites in Lincoln, both sacred and secular, the catalogue provides an essential strand of interpretation that brings the show together.
Poetic archaeology
The publication includes an extended essay entitled Every Earth is Fit for Burial, which functions as a guide to the works in the exhibition and explains how every work and artist orientates within this.
The catalogue also includes images of the majority of the works in the show or, in the case of commissioned artists, images illustrating recent projects. These sit alongside shots of our stores from which many of the display strategies in the show originated.
Within the essay, the ideas of archaeologists such as Michael Shanks and Christopher Tilley are discussed.
They rejected the notion of archaeology as an objective practice, instead emphasising its poetic and subjective qualities. This idea mirrors the basis of the institution, which displays temporary art exhibitions and also has a permanent archaeology collection.
Sustainability
Our small team is always looking at ways to join up and work across the disparate collections.
Sustainability is something that we always keep in mind. We utilise offcuts from our designers and source end-of-run organic papers to produce our print affordably.
We are also concerned with the amount of wasted print so, for this show, alongside our gallery copies, we introduced a minimal £1 charge for the publication.
We believe this has created an affordable, sustainable artefact from the exhibition.
Ashley Gallant is the collection access officer (contemporary art) at The Collection, and Usher Gallery, Lincoln
