Half-Hearted: wellcome

last week, i went to the Wellcome Collection to get some inspiration for my art history paper. it might seem like an odd choice to some people because it's a "science" museum on medicine, health, the body, and social issues, but after my visit, i knew i made the right decision. my visit was less about learning (although i learned TONS! i think this might be my favorite museum after the Victoria&Albert), and more about observing the modes of display that were chosen. my final paper asks these questions: how can truth be displayed? is there a right way to present it? what's the best way to do it? what is the history behind the display methods?

i've been meaning to visit the Wellcome Collection ever since i found out it was within 5 minute walking distance from where i live! i think i mentioned in a past entry that i wrote a history paper on John Thomson's photography from his journey around China. he left his collection for his good friend Henry Wellcome, who was an extraordinary man. bizarre, but extraordinary. i think i would have fallen in love with him, had i met him in the 1800s.

this weird man collected anything that was related to the human body. japanese sex aids, mummified bodies, shrunken heads, Napoleon's toothbrush, "tools" for amputation, chairs, Darwin's walking sticks, photography of various ethnic groups and much more. the collection is absolutely fascinating.

there were also special exhibits focusing on major health topics, such as malaria in the developing world, obesity, and the human genome.

now, i just need to figure out how to incorporate my experience at the collection in my paper...

Library of the Human Genome

These large volumes are filled with an almost complete copy of the human genetic sequence. Each volume represents the 22 chromosomes (and the sex chromosomes are at the top...x&y...right? this is way beyond my realm of understanding, to be honest...)