Superhuman exhibit at the Wellcome Collection
posted September 25, 2012 3:39 AM RSS | iCal | +googleCal
Fri September 28 at 1:00 PM, the Wellcome Collection, Superhuman Exhibit
183 Euston Rd, Camden Town, London Borough of Camden, London NW1, UK (Map & Directions)
Kattullus and myself both happen to be in London for the weekend. There's already a full-packed Saturday plan, but for those who can't make it or know they won't be able to get enough MeFites IRL, come join us on Friday! We are planning on meeting outside the Wellcome Collection at 1pm, to check out the Superhuman exhibit. Food and drink will likely happen afterwards.
From the Time Out London link about about the exhibit:
the Wellcome's 'Superhuman' exhibition looks at the history of mankind's efforts to enhance physical performance and athletic ability, with a nod to the achievements of elite athletes at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. From an early prosthesis, found in an ancient Egyptian tomb, to the latest attempts to connect artificial limbs to the nervous system, the show looks at a range of enhancements, including aids to sight and hearing, such as the earliest spectacles and ear trumpets and recent developments in the use of nano- and biotechnology. The show opens with a playful look at what constitutes an enhancement, from everyday objects such as glasses and false teeth to sex aids and iphones, and investigates the benefits and side effects of their use. A focus is the long history of prosthetics, both as enabling devices and covers for society's discomfort with missing body parts. Artefacts include a nineteenth-century silver nose attached to spectacles for a women disfigured by syphilis; there's also footage of prosthetic legs being parachuted into Afghanistan in Mohsen Makhmalbaf's film 'Kandahar'. The third instalment of Matthew Barney's 'Cremaster' series sees model, athlete and double amputee Aimee Mullins performing roles involving beautiful and metamorphic prostheses, which grant surreally envisaged superpowers. Other video works include Dorothy Cross's 'Eyemaker', which follows an ocularist's creation of a glass eye. Fantasies of human transformation are explored through comic characters such as Dr Octopus. The history of adaptions made in pursuit of athletic advantage is illustrated by exhibits including the patents of Nike's early waffle sole trainers and a display about the rise of isotonic drinks.
Wilder and I are trying to make it. Staying with a human/medical theme, if interested we could afterwards take you to the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons where she works.
posted by kairab at 12:00 PM on September 27, 2012
posted by kairab at 12:00 PM on September 27, 2012
That's excellent news, Lauren. I arrived in London today. For finding each other purposes: I look basically like my profile picture except shorterhaired and beardfree, so now I look like a teenager apparently, based on the questions I get from people in drinking establishments =)
posted by Kattullus at 4:34 PM on September 27, 2012
posted by Kattullus at 4:34 PM on September 27, 2012
The ghost of Steve Jobs changed kairab to Lauren in my last comment. That and my sister welcomed me to London by taking me out for martinis.
posted by Kattullus at 4:40 PM on September 27, 2012
posted by Kattullus at 4:40 PM on September 27, 2012
I'm stuck on the slowest train from Sheffield to London, via Retford. Stupid, intentionally mean ticket seller...should have gone with the machine! Getting to London Kings Cross at 12:30 and will try to scuttle over to Euston station ASAP. May be a few minutes late. Contact me at iamkimiam using your preferred social network if you need to get in touch. :)
posted by iamkimiam at 1:55 AM on September 28, 2012
posted by iamkimiam at 1:55 AM on September 28, 2012
Alright, I'm heading now for the Wellcome Building. I'm wearing a light gray coat. I'll try to situate myself in or by the lobby (I hope this place has a lobby).
posted by Kattullus at 3:46 AM on September 28, 2012
posted by Kattullus at 3:46 AM on September 28, 2012
I've arrived. Sitting at a table right by the entrance.
posted by Kattullus at 4:53 AM on September 28, 2012
posted by Kattullus at 4:53 AM on September 28, 2012
Yeah, I've been telling everyone about the Superhuman exhibit and the Hunterian. It was super.
posted by Kattullus at 7:10 AM on September 30, 2012
posted by Kattullus at 7:10 AM on September 30, 2012
Great Weekend outing(s) all round - excellent company and good fun! Glad to have met so many interesting MeFites. Must do something like this again some time ... perhaps closer to Xmas.
posted by kairab at 7:13 AM on September 30, 2012
posted by kairab at 7:13 AM on September 30, 2012
Oh, incidentally... I finally looked it up, that Bennett Foddy guy on the six-split-screen video at the Superhuman exhibit was indeed the Foddy of cortex derail fame.
posted by Kattullus at 3:01 PM on October 6, 2012
posted by Kattullus at 3:01 PM on October 6, 2012
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posted by Kattullus at 5:12 PM on September 25, 2012