Press release: Turner Contemporary to host The Horniman Museum Walrus next summer

The Horniman Museum and Gardens’ iconic walrus will soon have his first ‘sniff’ of sea air for over a hundred years. He will make a trip to the seaside next summer as part of a new Hayward Touring exhibition at Turner Contemporary, Curiosity: Art & The Pleasures of Knowing. The famously overstuffed walrus has had pride of place in the Horniman’s Natural History gallery since 1901 and has moved no more than 25 feet in that time. He is a firm favourite with museum visitors and will be a key piece in the exhibition when it opens in Margate on25 May 2013.

Victoria Pomery, Director of Turner Contemporary explains:  ‘Artists’ curiosity about the world and how it informs their artistic production is at the heart of this exhibition. The show brings together a wealth of wonderful artefacts and artworks by leading historical and contemporary artists. The opportunity to see such an extensive range of material allows visitors to think more about the role that curiosity plays in all our lives.'     Alongside the Walrus will be a penguin brought back from a Shackleton expedition, on loan from The Powell-Cotton Museum and the tusk of a Narwhal from The Beaney. Artists featured will include Tacita Dean, Matt Mullican, Katie Paterson and Richard Wentworth, as well as a series of watercolour images of birds by JMW Turner. Janet Vitmayer CBE, Director of the Horniman says:  ‘We are delighted that the walrus is to be a part of the Hayward Touring exhibitionCuriosity: Art & The Pleasures of Knowing on his first outing from the Horniman. Loaning objects and artworks is an important part of the work of all museums and galleries, and we’re glad to give visitors to Turner Contemporary in Margate the chance to enjoy one of our most popular exhibits in a new context.’  The walrus will be on display at the Horniman until mid-May 2013. Curiosity: Art & The Pleasures of Knowing opens at Turner Contemporary in Margate on Saturday 25 May 2013.