Goddesses

BY MARIAN MAGUIRE
An exhibition at the Museum of Classical Archaeology

In this exhibition, New Zealand artist Marian Maguire imagines how the passing millennia might have affected the traditional roles of the ancient Greek goddesses. Athena, Aphrodite, Artemis, Hera, Nike, Demeter and Persephone are all present – and they are restless.

Assuming the Greek gods are immortal and therefore have a continued presence, Maguire wonders: would they do things differently? Would they stay the same and maintain the status quo or would they choose to change, if they could see us now? Would they stay, or would they walk away?

The exhibition comprises five colour lithographs and one etching. Maguire borrows figures from ancient Greek vase painting and statuary, but none of the figures are exact copies. Some are adapted from existing representations; others are inventions, freshly drawn in ancient style.

1

Athena tires of her shield and spear

Lithograph, 2017
760 x 560mm
© Marian Maguire

2

Aphrodite loses interest in flirting

Lithograph, 2017
760 x 560mm
© Marian Maguire

3

Artemis puts down her bow

Lithograph, 2017
760 x 560mm
© Marian Maguire

4

Hera abandons her crown

Lithograph, 2017
760 x 560mm
© Marian Maguire

5

Nike takes flight from victory

Lithograph, 2017
760 x 560mm
© Marian Maguire

5

Demeter and Persephone

Etching, 2017
540 x 430mm
© Marian Maguire

About Marian Maguire

Colonial history and Greek myth may seem strange bedfellows, but Marian Maguire has embarked upon a number of series in which the two collide: in The Odyssey of Captain Cook (2005), The Labours of Herakles (2008), and Titokowaru’s Dilemma (2011) she weaves them together seamlessly to create new and thought-provoking narratives.

Marian Maguire’s work has been exhibited around the world. The Labours of Herakles was exhibited at the Museum of Classical Archaeology in 2015.


Visit the Museum of Classical Archaeology

Walk among the gods and heroes in one of the largest surviving collections of plaster casts of Greek and Roman statues in the world.

https://museums.cam.ac.uk/museums/museum-classical-archaeology

Call: 
01223 330402
Email: museum@classics.cam.ac.uk
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All works © Marian Maguire

Museum of Classical Archaeology