Artists' responses to Museum/Gallery Collections

 I have been looking a examples of artists who have used existing collections as inspiration for their own work. The most notable from the past few years was Grayson Perry's 'Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman', pictured above. I took a group of my students to see the exhibition and we were lucky enough to hear Grayson speak about his work. He described it as a 'pilgrimage' through the British Museum's collection and a homage to the skill of centuries of unnamed people.

Simon Fujiwara's 'Since 1982' at Tate St Ives explored his Cornish childhood through the work of Barabara Hepworth, Alfred Wallis and other well known artists represented at the gallery.

Last year, Simon Starling produced a film that was shown in the Duveen galleries in Tate Britain. 'Phantom Ride' explored the history of the gallery space and the exhibitions that have been held there.

Portable Museums

This is a possible way of curating my work. It would also serve as a way of encouraging feedback and participation from a range of audiences. Moseley Society Local History group is currently running a project called 'What Moseley Means To Me', they are trying to gather reminiscences from local people of all ages. They hope to collect photos and objects with accompanying captions.  A portable museum could be taken to schools, care homes and displayed in shops and pubs. People could add their own memories, stories and even objects.

Images above show work by Ron Pippin, Joseph Cornell and Marcel Duchamp. Below is a project by artist Joanne B Karr and Joanne Howdle, curator of Caithness Horizons Museum. It is inspired by the life and work of 19th century amateur botanist Robert Dick.

The Museum of Childhood

The V&A Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green, East London.