Youki Hirakawa’s ‘A Candle’ in Salisbury Cathedral's Milestone Exhibition Virtual Tour

Despite it’s current public closure, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the virtual tour of ‘Celebrating 800 years of Spirit and Endeavour’ at Salisbury Cathedral, featuring Youki Hirakawa’s ‘A Candle’, goes live, 800 years to the day since the first foundation stones of the Cathedral were laid – on what is a particularly pertinent and auspicious day. Whilst nothing can replace seeing a work of art in the context specially chosen for it, to be able to walk around it and get close to it, this is, however, a wonderful opportunity to share the work until the time comes when we can welcome visitors back into the Close and Cathedral to view this milestone exhibition for real.

Visit the virtual exhibition tour below:

Youki Hirakawa's ‘A Candle', features alongside 20 important and iconic works of art, by world renowned modern and contemporary artists including Craigie Aitchison, Sir Tony Cragg, Martin Creed, Dame Barbara Hepworth, Dame Elisabeth Frink, Sir Antony Gormley, Bill Woodrow, Bruce Munro, Grayson Perry, Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, Mark Wallinger, Henry Moore, Conrad Shawcross and Lynn Chadwick in Salisbury Cathedral's largest contemporary art exhibition for nearly two decades.

'Celebrating 800 years of Spirit and Endeavour is curated by Jacquiline Creswell, the Cathedral’s Visual Arts Adviser, who has brought together work from some of the most important and influential contemporary artists of the 20th and 21st century. The challenge for the curator, has been to mount an exhibition that embodies the spirit, ambition, faith and endeavour that brought about that move and the construction of this magnificent building.

Speaking about the exhibition Jacquiline Creswell, said: “The exhibition is inspired by the ordinary people who came together in faith and resolve to achieve something extraordinary, and the exhibition seeks to articulate the potential that humankind has consistently shown over eight centuries. Collectively the works explore the human condition in different ways, seeking to understand what it is about people and faith that can inspire such vision and creativity.” As Creswell concludes: “My most fervent hope is that the exhibition allows us to contemplate what it is that empowers people to harness their strengths, to find their voices and feel addressed, to echo the effort and achievement made by the ordinary people who built a city and a Cathedral of such distinction.”

Although currently under lock and key, the exhibition will be on until 25 October. A catalogue will be on sale with listings supplied by participating galleries, museums and foundations. 


For further information on ‘Celebrating Spirit and Endeavour’ click here

For further information on Youki Hirakawa click here