The exhibition „Defining beauty: the body in ancient Greek art“ in the British Museum at the moment is undoubtedly one of the most important cultural invents in London. The study conference “The Athlete of Croatia: a bronze youth from the sea“, dedicated to the centrepiece of the exhibition, the Croatian Apoxyomenos, was organized in order to explore the sculpture’s recovery from the sea in 1999, its conservation, and the place it holds in the history of Greek art by the most notable Croatian and British experts. Ms. Iskra Karniš Vidovic, from the Croatian Conservation Institute in Zagreb, opened the symposium with a presentation of Apoxyomenos discovery and very demanding restoration. The lecture on contemporary underwater archaeology, challenges, and its future in the eastern part of the Adriatic Sea, was given by Peter B. Campbell from the University of Southampton. These lectures were followed by the discussion on restauration by Ross Thomas (British Museum) and Michael Fischer (Oxford Maritime Trust). Ian Jenkis, the main curator of the exhibition, explored historical and artistic meaning of body in ancient Greek art which is presented in this exhibition through 150 magnificent pieces of art. Saša Randic introduced the new Apoxyomenos Museum in Mali Lošinj, and Ms. ?urdica šimicic, the Director of the Tourism Office presented the touristic and cultural potentials of Lošinj – island of vitality.
This study conference, which was organized by the Croatian Ministry of Culture and with the support of the Croatian Embassy in London, gathered many British museum professionals and experts in the field of archaeology, preservation of heritage, art and history. Through a series of lectures and discussions Croatian knowledge, technology and competences were presented and the excellent cooperation between British and Croatian cultural institutions once again was confirmed.
The exhibition „Defining beauty: the body in ancient Greek art“ will be opened until 5th of July 2015.
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