"Expanded Interiors" at House of Cryptoporticus, Catrin Huber - Pompeii Sites

13 July 2018

“Expanded Interiors” at House of Cryptoporticus, Catrin Huber

Pompeii, House of Cryptoporticus

14 July 2018 - 20 January 2019

CATRIN HUBER

Expanded Interiors explores ancient Roman wall paintings and Roman artefacts through contemporary fine-art practice at the two UNESCO World Heritage sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Initiated by visual artist Catrin Huber, Expanded Interiors brings together an experienced team from contemporary art (Catrin Huber, Rosie Morris), archaeology and digital technology (Prof. Ian Haynes, Dr Thea Ravasi, Alex Turner). Expanded interiors is looking at the relevance of Roman wall painting and Roman artefacts for contemporary fine-art practice, and how to respond to the histories and complex nature of these archaeological sites within a contemporary context. This two-year project brings together practice-based fine-art and archaeological investigation, 3D digital scanning and printing.

Expanded Interiors culminates in Catrin Huber developing site-specific fine art installations within two distinct architectural contexts: the House of the Beautiful Courtyard, in Herculaneum, opening 16th May, 2018; and the House of the Cryptoporticus, in Pompeii, opening13th July, 2018. The exhibitions will be open to the public until January 2019.

The two exhibitions at Herculaneum and Pompeii are very different, but complement and relate closely to each other: all share an exploration of the relationship between wall decorations and objects. The exhibition at Herculaneum focuses on Roman objects and their reproductions, and the link to Maiuri’s Antiquarium and Open Museum; while the exhibition at Pompeii responds to the beautiful, recently restored wall paintings at the House of the Cryptoporticus with two installations of Contemporary wall paintings that incorporate replicas of Roman objects.