WINCHESTER Arc has welcomed a new touring exhibition based on the concept of Sin.

Sin is the first UK exhibition to explore the concept in art, bringing together eight paintings from the National Gallery’s collection alongside two special loans from contemporary artists Tracey Emin and Ron Mueck.

Speaking before the exhibition opened on February 24, National Gallery chief curator Christine Riding said that the themes present in the exhibition are universal, saying: “It doesn’t really matter what society you come from, what age you come from, the concept of sin and salvation is pretty embedded into the idea of being a human being. So, we’re using the national gallery’s collection and some contemporary works of art to show the timelessness nature of this idea of sin.

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“I think a lot of people will come to this show with very different ideas of sin and sinfulness, and a lot of people might think of sin being black and white – and the exhibition is literally black and white in the colour of the walls – but I think what they’ll take away from it is the real ambiguity around sinfulness and also who is deserving of kindness and even salvation.

"And I think a lot of the paintings in the exhibition will suggest that everyone is worthy of that and deserves to be forgiven or deserves to be given a second chance, and I think it’s the kind of thing people can relate to.”

Christine said that her favourite pieces in the exhibition are It was just a kiss, which was created Tracey Emin in 2010, and The Woman taken by Adultery by Rembrandt, completed in 1644.

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She continued: “I think this exhibition underlines that everything is relevant. If something has been created by a human being, whether it’s 500 years ago or yesterday, it’s relevant to us today.”

Sin opened at The Arc on Friday, February 24 and runs until Sunday, May 14. The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of sin-themed events, talks and workshops, including a curator’s talk with Dr Joost Joustra, a chocolatier masterclass and a sin-inspired cocktail-making evening with The Alchemist.

Tickets for Sin and its accompanying programme can be booked online at arcwinchester.org.uk/.