New UC Exhibit Sheds Light On Cincinnati's Connection to Ancient World

Classical archaeologist, researcher and University of Cincinnati Classics Professor Antonios Kotsonas sheds light on Cincinnati’s connection to ancient worlds with an exhibition of sculpture, paintings and historical objects in the Blegen Library lobby. "Greece and Rome and the Making of Cincinnati" is a unique exhibition about Cincinnati intended for a broad audience.

"The impact of these cultures on the modern world has not been showcased in exhibitions before," said Kotsonas.

The exhibit, on display now through 2019, reflects Cincinnati’s history and the influence of the ancient world on the formation of our city, our architecture, the university, and local artists. It presents information about Cincinnati’s connection to antiquity in a modern and interactive way. 

"We wanted the exhibit to be playful, engaging, and accessible not only to academics and the University of Cincinnati community, but also to the entire Cincinnati community as well," Kotsonas noted.

Collaboration with the Cincinnati Museum Center

Many exhibitions of classical art and objects from antiquity focus on the objects themselves and their original context. Working in collaboration with the Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) allowed Kotsonas and the Classics department to create an exhibition revealing connections between classical Greece and Rome with modern Cincinnati. 

"I’ve worked for other museums, but [this exhibition] is the only one that focuses on the reception of antiquity, rather than antiquity itself," said Kotsonas. "I’m not looking at the ancient sculptures, but I am looking at the way they influence the modern world."

Since the start of exhibit planning over a year and half ago, the UC College of Arts and Sciences has fully supported Kotsonas’ vision.

"As the process unfolded, we saw a greater opportunity to address additional themes and topics that would not only capture the interests and imaginations of people in the surrounding community, but would enable us to showcase the talents and interests of UC faculty." said Senior Associate Dean Arnie Miller, who helped spearhead the partnership with CMC.

"The collaboration with CMC is helping us to get beyond the ivory tower, to demystify what we do and what we contribute to society."

The Classical World and Local Artists

A visual focal point of the exhibition is the sculpture "Atlas Recycled" (2010) by local artist and UC Classics alumnus, Tom Tsuchiya (BA ’95). 

Depicting the Greek mythical titan Atlas bearing the earth on his shoulders, the 7-foot-tall sculpture — which is also a recycling receptacle for aluminum cans and plastic bottles — uses repurposed materials for a contemporary take on a classical theme. Donated maps and atlases cover the sculpture, and Tsuchiya put a map of Cincinnati on the chest to represent his heart. 

Subsequent iterations of "Atlas Recycled" have been exhibited in New York and Washington, D.C. Tsuchiya also created a different version of "Atlas Recycled" during the London International Youth Science Forum in 2015.

"Atlas is actually one of my favorite pieces because it doubles as a recycling receptacle — it’s functional," he said. 

Other Cincinnati artists inspired by antiquity are showcased in the exhibit including painter Bruce Erikson and sculptor John Leon. Erikson’s contemporary oil paintings are an ode to neoclassicism, and Leon — a first generation American, born to Greek parents — brings classical themes into the 21st century with his draped figure sculptures.

Diversity in Antiquity

The influence of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian culture can also be seen in the work of Cincinnati-based African American painter Robert Duncanson and the commercially produced Sphinx bookend by Rookwood — the first female-owned manufacturing company in the United States.

"It was important to show that there were other social and racial groups that had an interest in antiquity," Kotsonas said. 

Part of his role as a professor and curator is to engage with people who may not have a background or specific interest in classics, and therefore are coming to the subject with fresh eyes.

"Many of the students I teach may not want to specialize in classics; they take the classes out of general interest. That’s a good starting point for conversation," he said.

The exhibition is free and open to the general public:

Groups interested in guided tours are welcome to contact Charlie Moore, College of Arts and Sciences Event Manager, at moore4cs@ucmail.uc.edu.

About Passport to Discovery

As CMC's "Curate My Community" project sought to place artifacts from its collections around the region during Union Terminal’s historic restoration, the UC College of Arts & Sciences (A&S) took the lead in bringing signature exhibits to our Uptown campus, several of which highlight the expertise and contributions of A&S faculty. This initiative is called Passport to Discovery, and these exhibits are designed to connect A&S’s researchers and CMC’s museum curators with a community of learners and explorers of all ages. 

Other exhibits you can visit include Big Bone Lick, Cincinnati Under the Sea, Climate Change and Us, and Ipuh and the Genetics of Extinction. For more information about this collaboration, please visit artsci.uc.edu/passport, or contact Charlie Moore at moore4cs@ucmail.uc.edu.