Soup of Souls Exhibition Tells the Stories of the Solent

“Haunting, beautiful, and very moving”: these are just some of the words that a recent visitor to the latest arts installation at Portsmouth Cathedral had to say about local artist Pete Codling’s ‘Soup of Souls’. 

The exhibition was created and inspired during an artist residency project in the summer of 2018 as part of the Portsmouth Cathedral annual theme for 2018, TIME.

Pete unveiled his exhibition in the cathedral nave on January 24th to a crowd of visitors and friends on a special opening night. A total of eight panels created by Pete are the product of his time spent in quiet reflection and creativity in the relative isolation of the Hermitage. The panels hang in the nave, suspended from the massive stone columns which support the roof — filling the space with their artistry and detail. 

The exhibition is the culmination of time spent by Pete at Portsmouth Cathedral drawing in the Hermitage, a small quiet space in the Cathedral tower with superb views of the city of Portsmouth, Portsmouth Harbour, and the Solent. Pete drew inspiration from the activity and stories of the waters of the Solent. 

Pete Codling, born in Zambia to English and Irish parents, has lived in Portsmouth since his youth. A lifelong drawer, since 2010 Pete has dedicated himself to developing a portfolio of large-scale charcoal drawings which are based in an atelier-style gallery on Castle Road, Southsea. 

Another visitor to Portsmouth Cathedral to see the exhibition commented: “Incredibly moving. I will never look at the waters of the Solent in quite the same way.” 

The exhibition was made possible in part through the support of Arts Council England. 

The exhibition is free and open to the public during the opening hours of the cathedral.