Hermit begins his seclusion stint

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Hermit will spend his time studying the museum's treasures

A hermit has begun 40 days of isolation in a Gothic tower in Manchester Museum.

Ansuman Biswas, 43, who lives in London, plans to contemplate things "lost" and the impact of extinction during his confinement.

Mr Biswas has chosen 40 objects to present to the public during his stay, including a human skull and a brick from the Great Wall of China.

The city's museum has 4.5 million artefacts, which Mr Biswas will live among until 5 August.

His other chosen objects include a now-extinct St Helena giant earwig and the honey bee, a threatened species.

Singing

His only communication with the outside world will be through his internet blog as he details what life is like in seclusion.

Mr Biswas said he will be passing his time by singing.

"Singing is quite an important activity for recluses and monks and hermits everywhere, you might call it a kind of praying," he said.

Mr Biswas was chosen from 300 applicants for the role.

Director of the museum Nick Merriman said not all of the candidate were suitable.

He said: "We were mainly looking for artists who have worked in performance art or live art and have an interest in isolation, meditation and so on."

Mr Biswas has also spent 10 days and nights without food in a cardboard box for an exhibition in London.

The museum has described him as "the ultimate live exhibit".