AN extraordinary exhibition of sculpture has opened at The Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro.

Entitled Unto the Self, the collection of work on display by Robert Bryce Muir is guaranteed to amaze, intrigue and possibly even unnerve visitors in its fascinating examination of the human body in relation to the environment.

The show's centrepiece is a life-sized steel sculpture of a male figure in a neon cube. Visitors can walk through and around the work, confronting the figure with its outstretched hand head-on, approaching furtively from behind or simply standing beside it. In each case the experience is different and, to make it even more curious, the figure itself is regularly moved so that no two incursions into its space are likely to be the same.

"It's almost as if it's got a life of its own," said artist Ann Laity from Truro, who saw the exhibition for the first time when she came to the private view. "Meeting the figure is a very strange sensation but one that I really like."

Robert Bryce Muir, who lives and works in London and who has recently completed a highly prestigious commission for fashion designer Alexander McQueen's new shop in Los Angeles, is delighted to be exhibiting in Truro. His aim, he says, is to encourage visitors to think about themselves as human beings.

"I want them to engage with the installations and to question what they represent.

"They don't have to like them but hopefully they will understand a little more about themselves."

Talking about the life-size male figure in the cube, Mr Bryce Muir said that his sculpture had become like a friend to him.

"He is an entity in his own right, someone I feel I know. Sometimes we argue. I don't feel like I'm in charge any more."

In addition to the life-size figure, there are other male and female mixed studies on show – including Janus, an anatomical head study in copper.

Robert Bryce Muir is giving a free lunch time talk about the exhibition on Tuesday at 1pm.

Places are limited so booking is necessary.

On Wednesday, November 19, from 6.30pm to 9pm, he will also be leading a life drawing class and talk. Tickets are £5 each.

Unto the Self runs at the Royal Cornwall Museum until January 11. Entrance is free.

For information see www.royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk or call 01872 272205.