Fantasy, Myth, Legend
Introduction
History is not just a set of facts; it is also a collection of narratives passed down through time and across cultures. Infused with fantasy, these narratives often reflect the desires, fears, and values of the people who tell them. This exhibition explores how artists from different backgrounds and moments in time have engaged with Western European historical narratives from prehistory through the medieval era. Across these works, artists look to the past for different purposes, from the promotion of nationalist myths and gendered ideals to the critique of colonialism and related cultural prejudices. Viewers are invited to question the supposed mysticism of prehistoric monuments, the assumed universality of ancient Greek and Roman cultures, and the romanticism of medieval narratives and religious architecture. What accounts for the continued appeal of these fantasies, myths, and legends into our own time? And how can art help us to reimagine and remake these legacies in the future?
Curated by
Sarah Mirseyedi (SM), Andrew W. Mellon Fellow, Prints, Drawings, and Photographs; and Regina Noto (RN), Brown PhD 2026, History of Art and Architecture; with assistance from Gabrielle Patrone (GP), IFPDA / Mellon Summer Intern 2023
Sarah Mirseyedi
RISD Museum is supported by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, through an appropriation by the Rhode Island General Assembly and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and with the generous partnership of the Rhode Island School of Design, its Board of Trustees, and Museum Governors.
Exhibition images
