The Ray Harryhausen: Myths in Motion at The Arc in Winchester, which runs until February next year is proving incredibly popular, the venue recommending booking your tickets in advance to secure your preferred visit date, and avoid disappointment.
This popular exhibition tells the story of Ray Harryhausen, featured on our pages many times, the legendary animator who changed the course of film history. This exhibition, which opened in September, has been especially created for The Arc and drawn from the incredible archive of The Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation.
Recent attendees include delighted members of the Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, who have shared photos of their visit with fans.
This exhibition has been complemented by film screenings at The Arc such as The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (screening 16th January), and a free Harryhausen is A Hero exhibition at City Space, Winchester, only running until 22nd November, showcasing public contributions, including students at the local Park Community School, that will show a love of Ray’s magical worlds of fantasy sci-fi. Many of the artworks on display there are for sale.
Ray Harryhausen’s innovation in stop-motion animation had a lasting effect on viewers and filmmakers alike. His creatures – the skeletons from Jason and the Argonauts (1963), Minaton from Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977) and Medusa from Clash of the Titans (1981, screening at The Arc 14th November) – were animated in a way that had never been seen before.
Marking 45 years since his last film premiered, this exhibition take a look at Ray’s inspirations, artworks, and lasting legacy.
Together with daughter, Vanessa Harryhausen, whose personal contributions will be found throughout the exhibition, over 70 objects feature in this exhibition. As well as all the original models that many fans will know and love (including the original Trog, displayed here for the first time ever), the exhibition shares Ray’s incredible detailed drawings, which were produced to help sell ideas to film producers.
Also on display are some glorious, grand paintings and sketches by John Martin, Gustave Dore and Joseph Gandy, on loan from Tate and Southampton City Art Gallery, which were early influences on Ray’s own art and storytelling.
This exhibition highlights the inventiveness, artistry and resulting awe of Ray Harryhausen’s career. Tributes from filmmakers such as Peter Jackson and Aardman Animations, who cite his importance, also feature in the exhibition.
The Arc is run by Hampshire Cultural Trust, established as an independent charity in 2014, who promote Hampshire as a county, offering outstanding cultural experiences to both its residents and visitors. They manage and support visitor attractions, museums, art galleries and arts centres across Hampshire.
• Ray Harryhausen: Myths in Motion runs until 16th February 2027 at The Arc, Jewry Street, Winchester SO23 8SB | Price: Adult – £5.45, Concession – £4.50, Child (16 and under) – Free | Book your tickets here | Gallery Ticket offering access to four or more different exhibitions over 12 months in The Gallery at The Arc also available here
• The Arc is online at arcwinchester.org.uk |Linktree | Facebook | Instagram
• Harryhausen is A Hero at City Space, Jewry St, Winchester SO23 8SB runs until 22nd November 2026 | More information about this free exhibition here
Thanks to Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs for the exhibition tip
Head downthetubes for…
• The Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation is a registered Scottish charity (No. SC001419). Galleries should contact them if interested in hosting an exhibition
• Harryhausen: The Lost Movies by John Walsh (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
A journey into the thrilling films that almost could-have-been, from the mind of the stop-motion genius who revolutionised Hollywood special effects.
Known for his iconic stop-motion creatures, Ray Harryhausen was at the forefront of Hollywood special effects for much of the 20th century. His films include One Million Years B.C., Clash of the Titans and Jason and the Argonauts, among others. But for every film that reaches the big screen, half a dozen projects are never realised.
Harryhausen: The Lost Movies explores Harryhausen’s unrealised films, including unused ideas, projects he turned down and scenes that ended up on the cutting room floor. This book includes never-been-seen-before artwork, sketches, photos and test footage from the Harryhausen Foundation archives
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Animation, Art and Illustration, downthetubes News, Events, Exhibitions, Other Worlds
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