31 May 2012

Artwork on show in Zoology Museum

The University of Dundee’s D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum will tomorrow open its doors for the summer season, with newly acquired art works going on display for the first time.

As well as showcasing the amazing collection of animals, birds, fish, insects and reptiles that the University’s first Professor of Biology collected from around the world, two works by internationally renowned artist Will Maclean will be exhibited at the museum as part of a project to acquire art inspired by the celebrated polymath.

In January, the University Museum Collections were awarded a £100,000 grant from the Art Fund to build the collection, and the first work acquired is Maclean’s mixed-media box construction Portrait of a Polymath - D’Arcy Thompson’s Daybook.

The artist, Emeritus Professor of Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, has also generously gifted a second work, entitled Museum of Zoology - Skull Notes. Both works will be on display in the museum over the summer, and new works will be added as further acquisitions are made.

Curator Matthew Jarron said, "Over the years, D’Arcy’s work has had an extraordinary influence on art and design that continues to this day. Many famous artists such as Henry Moore, Richard Hamilton and Jackson Pollock drew on his work and we’re keen to get today’s artists using his surviving collection in our Zoology Museum as a further source of inspiration."

The museum is located within the Carnelley Building on the main University campus, and is open every Friday afternoon from 2-4.30pm until 7th September. Admission is free.

For further information call 01382 384310 or visit www.dundee.ac.uk/museum

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
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University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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