Flesh

Abstract

The Wellcome Trust sponsored Conreen et al to produce a series of exhibits, installations and live events in their gallery space to provide an insight into the materiality of flesh, and its connection with the Wellcome Collection; to human health and medicine. The approach was largely aimed at an affective visitor experience. The audience (approx. 300) were offered the opportunity to touch, feel, smell, cut, drill and even taste flesh. The ultimate aim of the exhibition was to provide a complement to the Wellcome Trust collection, enhancing visitor experience and extending their understanding of health and medicine through appreciating the material connections that work in these areas. Flesh, in its numerous guises and forms, was presented using the conceit of tables (referring to the dissecting table of medical research). The event was curated around the following titles: The Organ Table; The Dissection Table; Preserving Table; Eating Flesh; Flesh Eating; DNA Table; Skin Table; Cutting Table; Sawing and Drilling Table; The Eye Ball Table; The Gut Table; Mummification Table. Experts in flesh, such as surgeons, body builders, butchers, artists and scientists gave talks on flesh from their perspective throughout the duration of the event. A Life Drawing class was also part of the evening, to allow visitors to reacquaint themselves with the human body. The event was filmed and photographed for the Wellcome Trust archives. A catalogue for the event was produced