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The challenge to mounting art work at the Royal Academy of Arts

Published on 01/11/19

Elizabeth B from Year 12 recently attended a talk given by Julian Cooper and Tristian Simmonds at Magdelene college along with members of the art department about the art of mounting an exhibition of work by artist Anthony Gormley at the Royal Academy of Arts.

From the British coastline to the rooftops of Manhattan, Antony Gormley’s sculptures are recognised across the world. With work from his 45-year career alongside major new installations created for the galleries, the Royal Academy is presenting his most ambitious exhibition in more than ten years. Following in the footsteps of Ai Weiwei and Anselm Kiefer, Antony Gormley is the next artist to take over the Royal Academy's Main Galleries with a series of works have tested the scale and light of the Academy's architecture. 


The event was organised by Cambridge Architectural Research group, of which Julian Cooper is a Director. He also works as a structural engineer for the Royal Academy, and he gave an interesting fact filled talk about the structural challenges of mounting such a huge exhibition in the listed building. Elizabeth is applying to Cambridge and the Bartlett School to study Architecture. Plans are underway for Julian to visit SPF to talk to Y10 &11 as part of the Inspire & Guide programme.