Myths Enclosed | Ovid at the Borghese Gallery

Everything is always becoming something else.

Ovid’s Metamorphoses has inspired centuries of artistic imagination. Filled with his interpretations of the Greek myths, the Latin opus has touched my own work. I could barely wait to see the show Metamorphoses: Ovid and the Arts at Rome’s Galleria Borghese.

The exhibition included paintings, sculptures and tapestries. Organized by myth and displayed throughout the museum like a maze, the show itself is like a kind of hunt, a quest to locate the curated pieces amidst the museum’s richly adorned walls. Many of the museum’s permanent works were included, and the exhibit’s borrowed works wrapped around these, so the eye might land on nearby art that was on included on the theme. Familiar with the museum’s collection, my eye stayed trained on the mission of the show, bypassing beloved Caravaggio paintings that were not on theme.

Bunching works by many artists around the same myth allowed for a fascinating contemplation of each artist’s style, choices and form. A beautiful surprise were the tapestries on display, paired with the recounting of Ariadne and Athena – a brilliant connection. I was also partial to the Medusa installation, and the miniature sculpture of her visage.

The mythical stories led me to my own Studio, uncovering the trio of paintings I created on the subject. These are large paintings, each devoted to goddess described in the Metamorphoses, inspired by specific poetic lines by Ovid. 

The concept of transformation, a key idea presented by Ovid about myths, was expressed meaningfully through this curation. A poet’s recounting is transformed into a myriad of expressions by artists throughout time – transcending time.