Karen Barker | University of Sydney

The interpretation and significance of Cycladic Sculpture in Museums

Once deemed as ‘ugly’ and ‘barbaric’, the last century has been a turning point for Cycladic sculpture and has become one of the most revered and significant artforms to emerge from the ancient world. The intended function of Cycladic statues is not explicit, largely due to large gaps in archaeological provenance, and subsequent black-market trading. Using the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York as the basis of this discussion, this presentation will examine how these museums have been able to display and interpret these figures, despite the lack of vital evidence regarding the creation of these statues.

Karen Barker is currently completing her Master’s in Museum and Heritage at The University of Sydney and has a Bachelor of Arts Majoring in Ancient Greek and Roman History from Macquarie University.  She has also volunteered for the AAIA Digital Horizons program and is currently working in the archaeology sector.

………

More information
Please contact yvonne.inall@sydney.edu.au to be added to the mailing list for future seminars.

Image credit: Cycladic figurine, female, attributed to the Bastis Master (c.2600–2400 B.C. ) Metropolitan Museum of Art 68.148.