Old Anatomy

Jason Ellis

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Developing his understanding of human anatomy, Ellis gained access to an extraordinary collection of plaster casts kept by the Department of Anatomy at Trinity College, Dublin. Here, the sculptor has chosen to re-create a number of body and animal parts, internal and external and turned them into ciphers for emotional and psychological expression. Ellis’ long history as a stone conservator gives him a deep understanding of the technical savoir faire necessary to physically make objects from a variety of materials including limestone, marble, slate and sandstone. He also shows an impressive knowledge of sculpture in art history and works by Michelangelo, elements of Japonism and Victorian curiosity are interwoven into an exhibition that allows the viewer to confront their own mortality by examining the physical death of others, represented in stone sculptural objects, the material of memorial.

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