Renowned sculptor Toddy Hoare will be mounting a new exhibition of his work at Wales’ only theological college tomorrow.
The work by Toddy, who is an ordained priest, includes depictions of the Seven Deadly Sins, a bronze of a naked Mary Magdalene and a profile of rabbi and broadcaster Lionel Bloom. The 25 pieces will be displayed around St Michael’s College, Llandaff, and the whole exhibition will be open to the public to view.
Toddy Hoare, a trained sculptor who spent 25 years in full-time rural parish ministry in Yorkshire following a career in the Army, hopes his work will encourage people to use art in their ministry. This is the third exhibition he has held at St Michael’s College.
He said, “I set out to make people think, to look again, to get the shy to explore spirituality and the prude sexuality. Art helps people see life from a different perspective. It encourages them to question and reflect, engaging them in a different way to books and texts. Much of my work draws on the Scriptures to tease out feeling rather than be mere illustration so we resonate better with the Bible.”
Principal of St Michael’s College, Revd Canon Dr Peter Sedgwick, said he hoped the exhibition would inspire students, as well as visitors, to the college. He said, “Toddy Hoare’s work is exceptional and the college is delighted to host this exhibition. We’ve just had a £1.1m make-over and were looking for new ways to enhance the building. I think Toddy’s work will inspire our students to look beyond their academic studies and use art to widen their experience of ministry.”
