Arts

From dust to dust

MA Gallery Studies students have shown that death and decay can be exciting, intriguing and beautiful in an exhibition at the University Gallery.

Death is one of life's main challenges, and it is an experience that is common to us all. Artists have responded to this in many creative ways, as it can neither be seen, touched nor heard.

The works on display are reminiscent of the phenomenon of the 'memento mori', a 17th century theme reminding the viewer of the brevity of life. This exhibition, entitled Dust to Dust, brings this notion up-to-date by using a variety of contemporary techniques to show how this abstract and conceptual idea is represented today. All the works deal with issues of the non-retrievable, and represent forms of death and decay in either physical or metaphorical terms, sometimes subtly hinting at it, and other times portraying it blatantly.

St Jerome with a skull, which dates back to the 16th century, sets the scene. This painting illustrates how the subject of mortality has been dealt with in the past. The viewer's attention is drawn to the scholar's expression of torment, as he is reflecting on the transience of life. Today's artists still preoccupy themselves with similar matters although within a less religious context. They question modern society's preoccupation with youth and perfection.

Artists exhibiting works include Jivan Astfalck, Laura Letinsky, Bill Morrison, Simon Temblett, Lisa Temple-Cox, and Greville Worthington. One striking work by Anya Gallaccio is made up of 100 gerberas which slowly decay during the exhibition

Dust to Dust will be at the University Gallery until 15 May. Admission is free and opening times are as follows: Monday to Friday 11am-5pm, Saturday 1pm-4.30pm. Every Wednesday at 1pm, throughout the exhibition, there will be free gallery tours. There will also be a film screening of Decasia: The State of Decay by Bill Morrison, at the Lakeside Theatre on 13 May at 8pm. For further events, see inside the gallery.

Anya Gallaccio's Preserve before and during decay. Courtesy of Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne.

Soho Theatre debut for Essex student

The debut play by current student David Dipper, is playing at the Soho Theatre.

Flush, takes an uncompromising look at sex, death and deceit and will be at the London theatre until 8 May. It follows the story of Francis, Charlie and Cupid during their weekly Flush-playing sessions.

The play, written by David while he was a member of the Soho Theatre's Young Writers' Group in 2003, is his first to be performed. He has now joined the Theatre's Writers' Attachment Programme and hopes to write his follow-up work this year.

Flush will be at the Soho Theatre until 8 May. For further details see www.sohotheatre.com.

Choir to perform The Kingdom

The University of Essex Choir will be giving two performances during May of Elgar's oratorio, The Kingdom composed for the Birmingham Festival in October 1906.

For the first performance on 1 May, the Choir will be returning to Chelmsford Cathedral for a concert supported by Birkett Long Solicitors in association with the University of Essex Foundation.

Their second performance will be at Snape Maltings on 2 May and is supported by Thomson, Smith and Puxon Solicitors. The choir has given twelve previous concerts at Snape, including the first performance there of Britten's War Requiem.

The Choir will be joined in both concerts by the prize-winning Serbian soprano Katarina Jovanovic, mezzo-soprano Louise Poole, from Teesside, Scottish tenor Jamie MacDougall, and bass Roderick Earle, from Colchester, and by Essex Sinfonia.

Both concerts will be conducted by Richard Cooke. Richard has been conductor of the Choir since 1981 and the forthcoming concerts will be his fifty-third and fifty-fourth concerts with the Choir. In addition to the Choir, Richard is Music Director of the Royal Choral Society (RCS) and conducts the Canterbury Choral Society. Each year he conducts the RCS Good Friday performance of Messiah, and the RCS Christmas Carol Concert, at the Royal Albert Hall.

The University of Essex Choir will be at Chelmsford Cathedral on 1 May and at Snape Maltings on 2 May. Tickets for both concerts are available from the University's Art Office, telephone 01206 873261 or e-mail arts@essex.ac.uk.

Also in the printed May edition of Wyvern:

• Male monologues
• Soho Theatre debut for student
• TAS double bill
• Stage door: Reviews from the Lakeside Theatre