Major exhibition of Ana Maria Pacheco sculpture in Norwich from March 17 in four locations

An exhibition of major sculptural work by internationally acclaimed, award-wining Brazilian-born artist, Ana Maria Pacheco produced over the last four decades takes place in four different locations across the City of Norwich (Norfolk) opening simultaneously on Tuesday March 17. 

The exhibitions are curated by Keith Roberts for the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (NCAS), in association with Pratt Contemporary.

An award-winning artist, from 1985 - 1989 Ana Maria Pacheco was Head of Fine Art
 at Norwich School of Art (now NUA), the first woman to hold such a post in the UK and she has an Honorary Degree from the University of East Anglia.

In 1999 Ana Maria Pacheco received the prestigious Ordem do Rio Branco from the Brazilian Government and in 2003 was made a Fellow of University College London. From 1997 to 2000 she was Associate Artist at the National Gallery, London (the first sculptor to hold the post), a residency that culminated in a major exhibition of her work that toured on to further venues in the UK. She currently lives and works in London and Kent.

The four venues hosting exhibitions are:
The GALLERY, Norwich University of the Arts
Norwich Cathedral 
Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery and
The Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich

Curator Keith Roberts said “Ana’s art encompasses large and enduring themes; violence, journeys, death, love, transformation and metamorphosis reflect her high seriousness, but at the same time her work is neither pompous nor devoid of humour."

Neil McGregor, Director of the British Museum, had this to say about the work in a sermon at the church.
“The young man at the front of the sculpture group, fleeing from something we cannot see, carries nothing but his father - his past, his identity - and it was I think a stroke of genius that Ana Maria has carved both father and son out of the same piece of wood. This man literally cannot leave his past behind, but must take it with him. And that young man is about to step off the plinth and be among us. How are we going to react? Now, today, as this displaced man and his family arrive in our church? What will we do? Will we behave with justice and with love?”

Ana Maria Pacheco Shadows of the Wanderer, 2008 Sculpture, polychromed wood 260 x 390 x 605 cm