LYING on a huge steel plinth in front of the cathedral’s West Front, is the quite stunning and realistic sculpted giant creation of Sean Henry.

You cannot miss it and it is becoming quite a talking point as you make your way across the West Front lawn.

Catafalque is one of eight works forming part of this two-month long exhibition. Each sculptor was asked to take the concept of “liminality”, or transitional space, as their inspiration.

The resultant works have been positioned throughout the cathedral in locations individually selected by the artist.

For example Roger Stephens’ work Cardo in Carrara marble is a giant door hinge, perfectly complementing the giant door hinge of the West Front door.

Two of the sculptors, Stephens and Jay Battle, are former cathedral stonemasons and have workshops near Salisbury, as do Keith Rand and Sean Henry.

The other four sculptors are Jonathan Loxley, Rebecca Newnham, Benjamin Storch and James Jones.

Placing contemporary sculptures in a living, working cathedral naturally posed challenges to the exhibition committee as curator Jacquiline Creswell explains: “There are places in the cathedral where you cannot place pieces and I wanted the sculptors to think about their relationship with the building in choosing their positions.

“To get the most out of the theme, I also wanted the sculptors in different media to explore it in its totality.

“The exhibition has caused a bit of a stir, but that is a challenge in itself. People can look at the pieces, and touch them.”

Each of the sculptures looks quite at home in its appointed place, and you have until November 12 to explore this wonderful exhibition.

★ Each of the eight sculptors are hosting “meet the artist”

sessions during the exhibition’s run and the first of these will be tomorrow afternoon in the Trinity Chapel where you can meet wood sculptor Keith Rand between 2pm and 3pm (tickets are priced at £2.50).

* Free guided tours of the exhibition have been arranged. The first of these is on Saturday between 2pm and 3pm.

There is no need to book, simply meet the guide in the Cloisters five minutes before the appointed time.

There are also dates fixed for October and November (dates can be confirmed at the cathedral).