War and Medicine opens at Wellcome Collection
24 November 2008
’War and Medicine’ is a free exhibition focusing on modern conflict through the personal experiences of surgeons, soldiers, civilians, nurses, writers and artists.
As humans develop sophisticated weaponry with which to harm their enemies, medicine has had to adapt to cope with the volume and the changing nature of resulting casualties.
The exhibition tracks medical advances that have progressed during wartime, beginning with the disasters of the Crimean War in the 1800s through to today's conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. It explores the uncomfortable and sometimes paradoxical relationship between war and medicine and the question of their influence upon each other.
'War and Medicine' brings together diverse topics such as the foundations of plastic surgery for reconstructing disfiguring facial wounds, the debate surrounding Gulf War syndrome, and the long-term implications for society from the traumas suffered and the lessons learned.
At the centre is a newly commissioned film installation by contemporary artist David Cotterrell, featuring a surround-sound film projection immersing visitors in the bleakness of British casualties in Afghanistan.
The 'War and Medicine' exhibition is accompanied online by new image galleries, exclusive videos and an interactive feature, ’Remembering War: Your memories’, where users can share their own memories of war and view others'.
A programme of discussions, debates, film screenings and tours also accompany the exhibition's run, allowing visitors to engage with experts from the arts and sciences.
'War and Medicine' runs from 22 November 2008 until 15 February 2009.
Image: Military medics move a patient to an ambulance; courtesy of David Cotterrell