Castaway
Goldney Hall | University of Bristol
On view March 24, 2019

Castaway is a depiction of a modern figure — a symbol of displaced and isolated people in the here and now. The work evokes an enduring fictional archetype — that of the solitary individual who makes do with the detritus of modern life, and gains a different understanding of society and the world in the process. This narrative offers an analogy for the contemporary artist who finds meaning — and a means of survival — by reimagining the found object.

Castaway is the latest addition to the University of Bristol’s growing collection of Public Art through which we seek to work and engage more closely with communities and partners across the city of Bristol. Our planned new Library will be the epicenter of cultural engagement at the University of Bristol and a hub for activity underpinning our role as a civic university. It will be a welcoming and inclusive space where students, academics and the public can engage with our cultural collections both onsite and offsite through the Library’s innovative program of outreach activities. Much like Castaway invites us to do, our collections offer a lens through which we are able to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the society in which we live. In combination with our Public Art engagement activities, installations like Castaway across the University will play a key role in connecting with and drawing in new audiences.