David Mach, famed for his dynamic large scale collages, sculptures and bold installations, today launches his major new project to celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the King James Bible in 2011 with the installation of a massive coathanger crucifixion figure, suspended from steel supports, outside St Giles Church in Edinburgh.

David Mach Crucifixion in front of St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh

This is the first of four coat hanger crucifixion figures, including a contemporary sculptural version of Calvary, which will be displayed in the exhibition at Edinburgh's City Art Centre in the summer of 2011.

Central to the project will be a large-scale limited edition artist's version of the King James Bible. Various elements from the project - collages and coathanger sculptures -will be on show throughout the UK in the coming year.

An array of David's large scale collages will also be on display.  Cinematic in scale, the collages will bring a contemporary dimension to biblical stories such as The Flood, Crossing the Red Sea, Jesus' miracles and the epic visions of St John. 

The first collage in the project, Tower of Babel, is currently on display in The Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition, 14 June-22 August.

Further opportunities to see elements of the project during the year include:  in the autumn a collage at St Paul's Cathedral and a crucifixion sculpture at Gloucester Cathedral; also under negotiation is a major exhibition of the crucifixions at Torre Abbey, Torbay at Easter.

David Mach comments:

'I like the expression "The Bible Is The Word" - to me its all about communication. The King James Bible communicated its message so effectively that its language still resonates through our speech to this day. Today we live in an age of sophisticated mass communication - satellites, computers, and live TV links - and yet we still have wars, famine and bigotry. To me that represents a failure of communication.

'The King James Bible holds as pertinent a mirror up to our human failings as it did when it was first published 400 years ago. The richness, devastation and pestilence of biblical imagery is as fine a subject as I could wish for to explore the hypocrisies of the contemporary world.'

Councillor Deidre Brock, Culture and Leisure Convenor for the City of Edinburgh Council, says:

"I am delighted Edinburgh's City Art Centre will be hosting such a prestigious exhibition to mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible in 2011. David Mach is an extraordinarily talented, internationally renowned artist and the City is proud to own three of his works, including his very striking portrait of the Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Our curators have already been working very closely with David to create what promises to be a superb exhibition which is certain to draw huge crowds to the City Art Centre next summer." 

Ends

To interview David Mach or for further information, please contact:

Truda Spruyt, Kate Wright-Morris or Matt Railton at Colman Getty on

020 7631 2666 or Truda@colmangetty.co.uk / kate@colmangetty.co.uk

Notes to editors

• David Mach RA, aged 54, is one of the UK's most successful and respected artists, known for his dynamic and imaginative large scale collages, sculptures and installations using diverse media, including coat hangers, matchstick heads and magazines.  Mach completed his MA at the Royal College of Art; he became a Royal Academician in 1998 and in 2000 was appointed Professor of Sculpture at the Royal Academy Schools. In 2006 he became a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery

• The Kings James Bible is the popular name for the first version of the Bible published on a mass scale 400 years ago.  In 1611, 50 of the most learned scholars in Britain, after years of study, compiled and published the very first version of the Bible on a mass scale.  That year large, 16 inch pulpit bibles were printed and sent to every church in England. Shortly afterwards, the production of smaller Bibles began - and for the very first time, everyone could have their own copy of the Holy Scriptures

• 400 years on, and to commemorate this significant anniversary, Edinburgh's City Art Centre have joined forces with Scottish artist David Mach to create a major exhibition for the summer of 2011. Over three years in the planning, the exhibition will include a vast array of David's collages and sculptures, and will open in July 2011

• A coathanger sculpture of a gorilla, Silver Streak, and a  collage, Babel Towers, is currently on show at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, closing 22 August www.royalacademy.org.uk

• Another collage from the project will be on display at St Paul's Cathedral, in the exhibition St Paul's in the 21^st Century, 21 September-15 October www.stpauls.co.uk/News-Press/Latest-News/Art-exhibition-at-St-Pauls

• A crucifixion sculpture will appear at Crucible, Gallery Pangolin's exhibition at Gloucester Cathedral, 1 September-31 October www.crucible2010.co.uk

• An exhibition of crucifixion sculptures at Torre Abbey, Torbay at Easter 2011 is under discussion which will show three crucified figures, representing Christ and the thieves who were crucified with him,  dominate the space standing 35ft tall www.torre-abbey.org.uk