Left: Field for the British Isles. © Antony Gormley. Photo: Dudley Hubbard.

Antony Gormley's 'Field for the British Isles' is at The British Museum until January 26 2003. Field features an invasion of 40,000 handmade clay figures into the Great Court at the heart of the British Museum.

It is the first time that this 'terracotta army' has been placed in a museum. 35 members of the 'field' have been placed alongside figurines from ancient cultures to evoke what the artist calls " the spirit of the ancestors."

Right: © Antony Gormley. Photo: Dudley Hubbard.

Field has a unique resonance in relation to the archaeological collection displayed throughout the museum's permanent galleries.

Visitors will be able to see how the work connects with idols, votive and fertility figures from Jordan, Syria, China and many other civilisations.

Left: © Antony Gormley. Photo: Dudley Hubbard.

"The work is extremely accessible and immensely enjoyable and has brought the museum together. You can see people bursting into smiles as they look at it," said Frances Carey from the British Museum.

Field is an interactive piece - it depicts a community but it also helps create communities by drawing people together.

Right: © Antony Gormley. Photo: Dudley Hubbard.

Teams of volunteers have worked together to set up the installation at the museum. The figures were also handmade by a community in St Helen's on Merseyside.

Antony Gormley is best known for his immense 'Angel of the North' at Gateshead. He was awarded the Turner Prize in 1994.