A Thousand Wax Sculptures to be Displayed in Exeter Cathedral for new Community Art Installation
Exeter Cathedral is set to host a new major art installation featuring a thousand wax sculptures made by a thousand different people, as part of a community art project.
Titled From the Vow Made, the landmark sculptural installation has been created in collaboration with award-winning artists, Neil Musson and Jono Retallick, and the local community, as part of a project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
On display in the nave of Exeter Cathedral from 1-4 June, From the Vow Made is made up of a thousand hand-carved objects carved from locally-sourced beeswax, with each sculpture representing something for which each individual is grateful.
For Musson, working with the local community and hearing about the inspirations behind each object has been a moving experience. He added:
“We asked 1,000 people, ranging from five years old to 95, what they are grateful for, and we have been touched by the depth and variation of the responses. People often thanked us for this opportunity to spend time considering what they really value. Each votive is unique in the way that it has been carved but, more importantly, in the way that it reflects something which is very significant to each individual. It has been a pleasure to work with the cathedral team on this historic project.”
The wax figures have been created during public workshops and sessions with local schools and community groups, including Cameron Mills Group – an Exeter-based centre for music, media, and drama. Cameron Mills, owner of the centre, said that the workshops have been an excellent opportunity for young people to get creative and consider what they are grateful for:
“Being part of the workshops was such a great experience for all of us at Cameron Mills Group. Our students really enjoyed trying something totally different. Working with wax was a fun new challenge and a great way to be creative in a new way. It was amazing to contribute to such a thoughtful and inspiring project, and we’re so proud to see our work as part of this beautiful piece at Exeter Cathedral.”
The project is inspired by the cathedral’s unique collection of medieval wax votives, made of hollow beeswax. The moulded votive offerings were once hung around the tomb of 15th century Bishop of Exeter, Edmund Lacy, by pilgrims seeking cures through his saintly influence. The offerings usually represented individual limbs that the pilgrims required healing. During the Reformation, the practice of leaving offerings was stopped and Lacy’s tomb was defaced. In 1942, the offerings were rediscovered behind a stone canopy above the tomb, while repairs were carried out following Second World War bomb damage. The collection of 1,058 pieces including one complete female figure, is of national significance as there are no other surviving votives of this kind in Britain.
Reflecting on the project, Lis Spencer, Community Outreach and Engagement Officer at Exeter Cathedral, said:
“So many people from the local community and beyond have been involved in the project. It has been wonderful to see all the different things people are grateful for, including family, surfing – and unicorns!
“The From the Vow Made installation will be ‘a thousand thank yous’ suspended in the nave of the cathedral. We cannot wait to see how it transforms that magnificent space.”
Visitors can see ‘From the Vow Made’ at Exeter Cathedral from 1-4 June during the cathedral’s opening hours and it is included with standard sightseeing admission.