Manchester Museum seeks a hermit to lock up in a tower


An interesting idea for the artisticly inclined.I doubt that 2 months of isolation is good for anyone but I'd imagine the experience will lead to some amazing art.

Amazing art for 2 months or a lifetime of therapy over the escapade?
There's a fine-line between them....

Two months, eh? Sounds like something I would do.

Makes me think in The Shining

It sounded pretty interesting until they stated: ‘the hermit will be expected to reflect on topical issues...focusing at the present time on ideas of biodiversity, climate change, sustainability, the future of the planet, all within the context of Manchester's place in the world’.

There go our plans for our engaging in our artistic pursuits! Lame!!!

Gods it's gorgeous up there! I bet it's even more so at night looking out over the city!

"Five weeks in we’re going to distract the poor hermit from all those biodiversity worries: sneak in a Harvey Nichols hamper, make the poor bugger dizzy with delicious foie gras and tip-top booze. Then get some readers into the tower SAS-style down ropes from helicopters. Dancing girls maybe. Have an all-nighter."

Can I pick which girls?

A hermit's 40 nights in a museum

And the lucky winer is...........
He might not look like the stereotypical hermit, but Ansuman Biswas is well prepared for isolation in a gothic tower.

The Calcutta-born artist has been picked to spend 40 days and 40 nights in a tiny room at the top of Manchester Museum, looking over the city.

Surrounding him will be 4.5 million artefacts, treasures the museum has collected over time.

The 43-year-old will contemplate things "lost" and the impact of extinction.

Currently living in London, Mr Biswas will uproot his life to exist in the ivory tower from 27 June until 5 August.

His only communication with the outside world will be through his internet blog as he details what life is like in seclusion.


I will be in isolation but I see myself performing a social function that is a historically important part of society

The feat will not be a big challenge for him, having spent 10 days and nights without food in a cardboard box for an exhibition in London.

He has also been blindfolded and left in a place unknown to him for two days.

Mr Biswas said: "Well in a way the one thing that is missing from the museum is life - a real live human being.

"Being at top of the this gothic tower is much the same way the brain is at the top of a spinal chord.

"The nature of loss, the cultural memory, I want to question what is important to us and how do we show that we value it?

"I will be in isolation but I see myself performing a social function that is a historically important part of society."

A museum spokeswoman said: "By documenting his existence in isolation through blogging and webcam we hope that he will become the museum's ultimate exhibit."

^^I feel like David Blaine would try something like this.