Clarissa Farr.
Editorial
Tradition and modernity
This spring sees the opening of two fascinating exhibitions that explore ancient traditions and ways of life, and how they have evolved over the centuries. Tantra: enlightenment to revolution will take us to the heart of a radical philosophy that developed in India in the 6th century and went on to have a powerful global impact, influencing revolutionary and political thought. The emphasis Tantra has always placed on feminine power, social inclusivity and spiritual freedom naturally made it attractive to counter-cultural movements of the 20th century and enhances its appeal to today’s audiences.
The Citi exhibition Arctic: culture and climate will be a major exhibition on the history of the Arctic and its Indigenous Peoples. Its central theme is a contemporary issue that is widely debated – the impact of climate change on the people who live in this northerly part of the world, which stretches over eight countries including Canada, Greenland and Russia. This dramatic and dynamic region has been home to resilient communities for nearly 30,000 years, and Indigenous Peoples have long used their creativity and resourcefulness to maintain a respectful relationship with nature. The many different cultural groups of the Arctic have traded and collaborated with each other for millennia. In their spirit of sharing we have invited curators and artists from the region to work with us so that visitors can look at the circumpolar region through their eyes, seeing how their communities have adapted to climate variability in the past and how they view and address the future.
I am also glad that we are sharing our groundbreaking research outside the walls of the Museum. Ancient Iraq: new discoveries presents the latest finds made by teams led by British Museum archaeologists working in Iraq in an important touring exhibition that is travelling to Newcastle and Nottingham. I hope visitors will find inspiration, challenge and enjoyment in all these exhibitions, speaking as they do to some of the most fundamental issues of our times.
Clarissa Farr Chair, British Museum Friends Advisory Council
With thanks to our contributors
Gareth Brereton Curator: Ancient Mesopotamia Duygu Camurcuoglu Conservator: Ceramic and Glass Catherine Daunt Hamish Parker Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art
Amelia Dowler Curator: Greek Coins Amy Drago Conservator: Stone, Wall Paintings and Mosaics Alfred Haft JTI Project Curator for Japanese Collections Thomas Kiely A.G. Leventis Curator for Ancient Cyprus
Grant Lewis British Museum Getty Paper Project Fellow Amber Lincoln Curator: Americas Alexandra Ortolja-Baird Visiting Academic Jennifer Ramkalawon Curator: Western Modern and Contemporary Graphic Works Imma Ramos Curator: South Asia
Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis Curator: Middle Eastern Coins Isabel Seligman Project Curator: Bridget Riley Art Foundation George Shaw Artist Sarah Vowles Smirnov Family Curator of Italian and French Prints and Drawings Neil Wilkin Curator: Early Europe
British Museum Magazine Spring/Summer 2020
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