A new display strategy: Crossing Cultures Crossing Time
The Ashmolean’s collections span the civilisations of east and west, charting the aspirations of mankind from the Neolithic era to the present day. Among many riches, we have the world’s greatest collection of Raphael drawings, the most important collection of Egyptian pre-Dynastic material outside Cairo, the finest Anglo Saxon treasures beyond the British Museum and the foremost collection of modern Chinese art in the Western world.
Our innovative new display strategy will transform the way these rare and beautiful objects are experienced and understood by visitors.
Crossing Cultures Crossing Time (CCCT) is an approach based on the idea that civilisations that have shaped our modern societies developed as part of an interrelated world culture, rather than in isolation. It assumes, too, that every object has a story to tell, but these stories can best be uncovered by making appropriate comparisons and connections, tracing the journey of ideas and influences through the centuries and across continents.
CCCT will transform the experience of visiting the Museum, maximising both the aesthetic and educational potential of our collections.
East ‘prefigured’ by West
Hellenistic and Roman objects such as this 1st century AD terracotta figurine (left) made their way to India from the time of Alexander onwards. Graeco-Roman stylistic influences are evident in the classically draped and posed 3rd century AD Gandharan Buddha (right).
