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Catrin Huber - Expanded Interiors

An interdisciplinary research project that drew site-specific contemporary fine art practice into a unique dialogue with ancient Roman wall paintings and architectural remains at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Herculaneum and Pompeii

Interior of ancient building with abstract artwork cladding the walls

Expanded Interiors was an interdisciplinary research project that drew site-specific contemporary fine art practice into a unique dialogue with ancient Roman wall paintings and architectural remains at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Herculaneum and Pompeii. For the first time, it brought together Huber’s practice-led research with the disciplinary perspectives and expertise of archaeologists, art historians, and digital technologists. The project was delivered in partnership with the Parco Archeologico di Pompei, the Parco Archeologico di Ercolano, the Herculaneum Conservation Project, and Newcastle University. Expanded Interiors investigated and developed installations for the House of the Beautiful Courtyard, in Herculaneum, and the House of the Cryptoporticus, in Pompeii.

The objectives of the project were:

  • To investigate through site-specific installations at Pompeii and Herculaneum how contemporary and Roman wall paintings negotiate public and private space, and respond to specific social, economic, and cultural contexts.
  • To bring together academic researchers and practitioners from complementary fields (fine art, archaeology and art history) to explore the relationship between Roman wall paintings and Roman artefacts via practice-led research.
  • To develop through practice-led fine art research new forms for displaying archaeological artefacts at Roman archaeological sites.
Colourful abstract painting with sculpture of face in top righthand corner

Outputs of Expanded Interiors were:

  • Three site-specific installations for exhibitions in two Roman houses - one installation in Herculaneum and two installations in Pompeii.
  • A book ‘Expanded Interiors’ (in English, Italian, German).
  • A chapter about Expanded Interiors in ‘Contemporary Art in Heritage Spaces’, published May 2020.

Outcomes of the project were:

  • project website that contains substantial information about the project and interpretive resources.
  • 8 podcasts giving insights into different aspect of the project.
  • An accompanying leaflet for Expanded Interiors in Spanish, German, French, Italian and English.
  • A series of workshops with local community groups in Ercolano and the Bay of Naples.
Large room in ancient building with sculpture made from metal and glass

Download project PDF: Catrin Huber - Expanded Interiors (2.8MB)