Yinka S in Hereford

Hereford Cathedral has linked up with Yinka Shonibare for a textile installation inspired by Herefod's Mappa Mundi  with its strange creatures and alien races that in medieval times were thought to people the far reaches of the world, beyond christendom with its centre in Jerusalem.

The ten panels, displayed in the cloister and the chained library, are made from irregular pieces of fabric like an amateur patchwork, and were stitched by three teams of people from the city - students, seniors and the learning disabled.  Videos show the participants, the  process and the artists explaining the project.   It is, he says,inspired by the ability of the Mappa Mundi to still reflect our contemporary concerns of fear of the stranger or 'other' which often leads to xenophobia.  The depiction of  creatures of legend is a reminder that we may ye become extinct if we don't take care of the environment.

 on right: mandragora, the fabled forked root that was supposed to shriek when pulled from the ground.     

Below, some other fanciful beings from an illuminated manuscript in the Library,  where the books are shelved with spines inward on account of the chains, and have to have handwritten notes with titles stuck on the fore-edges..  Also, a visit costs £6.00 pp.  for what is probably a maximum of 30 minutes.  There is a useful cafe hard by also in cloisters.  

.