Dooley’s Dachau

A haunting image inspired by a concentration camp near Munich in Germany, will take centre stage in an Arthur Dooley exhibition at Gallery Oldham next month.

Called “Dachau”, after the camp, it shows an image of the crucified Christ.

But before the sculpture goes on show, the gallery’s conservator Marisa Prandelli has been working to restore it.

Arthur Dooley has long links with the Oldham area and Gallery Oldham is asking people to share their memories of the Liverpool-born sculptor.

A spokeswoman for the gallery said: “The memories will be available for visitors to listen to as part of the exhibition and will feature alongside a BBC film about the artist.

“Some Oldhamers might recall the gallery showcasing Dooley’s solo exhibition in 1968 and us buying several pieces of his work, including ‘Dachau’.

“The ragged figure of the crucified Christ was created as a memorial to human suffering and was first shown in Oldham during Dooley’s one-man show.

“Others might recollect the artist from their schooldays. While ‘Dachau’ was on show in 1968, one of the sculptor’s other works was circulated around the borough’s primary schools on a three-month tour.

“More recently, people will remember ‘Dachau’ from when it was on permanent display in the old gallery building.

“Dooley was known as a man of the people for his passionate religious beliefs and working-class political ideals.”

The exhibition starts on November 22 and runs until the end of March.