Foreign Bodies, Common Ground at Wellcome Collection

As usual, Wellcome Collection has a fascinating exhibition for us.

Foreign Bodies, Common Ground is a collection of work by 6 artists who were artists in residence at different research facilities around the world and each artist has done very interesting and different work.

My favourite is the Fossil Necklace by Katie Paterson. Inspired by DNA research she has made a necklace where each bead has been carved from a fossil and each fossil charts the history and development of earth. There is a detailed drawing of the necklace and a video showing the inspiration and making of the necklace. I wish the actual necklace had been there but I was still inspired. What a wonderful idea! Imagine running your fingers along the necklace...it would be like running your fingers across time, along the history of the planet!

Other highlights are this shadow/lightbox by Wandering Moon Shadow Theatre. The three layers represent diseased cells, researchers and rice farmers. The light shines through the layers to form a single complete image on the floor.

And the work of Lena Bui who worked in China looking at food production and the spread of disease. This image shows an ink drawing of bacteria swarming. Looks lovely though!