Salisbury Cathedral exhibit reflecting modern and historical migration
The Leviathan exhibit is now on display until February
A new art curation at Salisbury Cathedral is reflecting two topics that have been high on the political agenda this year.
The Leviathan exhibit, by Shezad Dawood, explores migration and climate change with works from his wider project of the same name.
It features hanging paintings in the Nave of the possessions refugee's took with them when trying to cross the Mediterranean before their ship sunk to the bottom of the sea.
One such painting displays a handful of soil wrapped in cling film as someone sought to keep their connection to their homeland.
Curator of the display, Beth Hughes, says she hopes visitors take the opportunity to reflect on their lives and consider what world we want to live in.
"I had no idea that in this last year, how much would have changed in the world.
"And even today, there are new stories that add new layers of meaning and feel like a new urgency for these conversations."
Beth believes art can be a catalyst for the conversations around improving the world.
"Art work transcends language and it can connect with people on different levels.
"You might find connections that your not expecting, and that's what I can the art work to do."
And while the paintings offer an opportunity to reflect on modern issues, it speaks to the Christmas story of Jesus fleeing Egypt to escape King Herod.
Canon Treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral, Kenneth Padley, said: “This exhibition is a timely reminder, amid the anticipation and excitement of Advent and Christmas, that Jesus and his family were refugees and were being persecuted."
The exhibit stretches through many sections of the Cathedral, with a representation of Herman Melville's Moby Dick in the Audley Chapel, to explore the relationship between humans and the sea, while a painted sculpture takes centre stage in the Chapter House.
The sculpture, called 'Where do we go now?' depicts a group of sailors in a small boat encountering a whale.
Inspired by Jonathan Swift's 1704 phamplet on the nature of legitimate government, the Whale is said to represent that State and threatens to destroy the vessel.
The exhibit is installing at the moment and will be in the Cathedral until early February.