Ekphrasis

For one night only, experience poetry and sculpture being brought to life, featuring:

• Poet Gabriele Tinti
• Actor Peter Guinness
• Classicist Nigel Spivey
   

Like archaeological ruins [Tinti's poems] stand complete,

even as they sketch a past completeness that is, now, a far country.

Fiona Sampson (poet)

Join us for an evening celebrating the entanglements of the written word and ancient sculpture through the poetry of Gabriele Tinti. Tinti will present screenings of his works read by, amongst others, Hollywood actor Willem Dafoe and filmmaker Abel Ferrara. Following the screenings, actor Peter Guinness will perform Tinti’s work inspired by the Boxer at Rest and classicist Nigel Spivey will join Tinti for a lively discussion of how ekphrastic poetry brings the visual arts to life.

Grab a glass of wine, explore the atmospheric environs of our Cast Gallery, and enjoy this unique opportunity to experience our casts of Greek and Roman sculpture through the magical information of Tinti, 'the poet who makes statues speak' (Gino Castaldo, La Republica).

I find great joy reading the work of Tinti.

He carefully combs the work of ancients

revealing our indelible humanity.

Vincent Piazza (actor)

About Gabriele Tinti

Gabriele Tinti is an Italian poet. He has worked with the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Capitolini Museums (among many other institutions), and his poems have been performed by actors including Abel Ferrara, Willem Dafoe and Kevin Spacey. In 2018, his ekphrastic poetry project Ruins was awarded the Premio Montale with a ceremony at the Museo Nazionale Romano in Palazzo Altemps. His recent publications are Last Words (Milan: Skira Rizzoli, 2016), The Earth Will Come To Laugh and To Feast (New York: Powerhouse Books, 2020), Ruins (London: Eris Press; Milan: Libri Scheiwiller, 2021), Bleedings (Milan: La Nave di Teseo, 2022; New York: Contra Mundum Press, 2023), Confessions (London: Eris Press) and Hungry Ghosts (London: Eris Press, 2024).

About Peter Guinness

Peter Guinness is a distinguished British actor known for his work in film, television, and theatre. With a career spanning several decades, he has appeared in productions such as Alien 3, Luther: The Fallen Sun, Chernobyl, and The Sandman. Renowned for his commanding presence and versatility, Guinness has also performed extensively on stage, including at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

Access

• The Cast Gallery is on the first floor.
• We provide step-free access via our lift. To use the lift, please call us on 01223 330402 when you arrive and we will come down and provide access.
• An accessible toilet is available on the ground floor.
• This event is primarily seated and we can have chairs available which can be moved around the gallery.
• Find out more about Museum Access.
• Please contact us on 01223 330402 or email museum@classics.cam.ac.uk if you have any questions or concerns about accessibility.