Foreign bodies, common ground

Unusual exhibition at the Wellcome Collection following the work of artists commission by them to work in health research facilities around the world.

This was a mixed bag of work with some artists working with the communities they were in to produce the work and other just taking inspiration from the place. A fun idea was by Miriam Syowia Kyambin and James Muriuhu working in Kenya. They set up a photo studio made to look like   doctor’s office and filled it with props. They then asked local people to come and pose in it in white coats decorated in American fabric choosing the props they most feel influence research. During the run of the show on certain days there is a photographer present so you can join in and be part of the project.

My favourite piece was a necklace of fossils by Kater Paterson who was based in Cambridge. She took her inspiration from DNA research and each bead in the necklace was fashioned form a fossil and they are threaded in an evolutionary order. A plan that goes with the piece points out where species had DNA in common. It was an interesting idea and a beautiful object.

The picture I am using though shows a work by Eison Kambaluin in Malawi and represents the male and female role in herbalism. No I’m not sure I understand either but it made for an interesting picture!

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