Death: A Self-Portrait at the Wellcome Collection

Blow Out (and about) // Death: A Self-Portrait at the Wellcome Collection

What: Death: A Self-Portrait – FREE exhibition
When: Closes Sunday 24th February 2013
Where: Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE
Getting there: Nearest tube(s)Euston Square, Euston, Warren Street, King’s Cross St Pancras

Godammit. I’ve been meaning to take a gander at the Wellcome Collection’s latest exhibition, Death: A Self-Portrait. If, like me, you’ve seen the posters on the Underground and want to get involved, there’s still time – but only just!

Death: A Self-Portrait at the Wellcome Collection

I’ve always had a curious fascination with mortality.
I like skulls *looks down at McQueen ring*.
I’d rather watch a TV programme about the death penalty or the ‘leccy chair than Eastenders.
One of my fave contemporary artists is Damien Hirst AKA creator of works like Dead Head, a bejewelled skull and The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living. Sure.

Death: A Self-Portrait is the private collection of former antique print dealer Richard Harris and, as you might imagine, is entirely devoted to death. Right up my street!

Containing an edit of over 300 pieces, the display keeps with the Wellcome Collection’s theme of bringing art and science together, resulting in an impressively diverse array of thought-provoking artwork and artefacts.

Death: A Self-Portrait at the Wellcome Collection

Death: A Self-Portrait at the Wellcome Collection

As well as the obligatory skulls *air punch* there’s also rare prints by Rembrandt and Goya through to war art and human remains, juxtaposed with Renaissance vanitas paintings (which I LOVE) as well as Mexican day of the dead shrines and Tibetan death masks.

The displays are divided into five sections: Contemplating Death, The Dance of Death, Violent Death, Eros & Thanatos and Commemoration, leading to the finale piece: amazing chandelier made of 3,000 plaster-cast bones by British artist Jodie Carey. *orders one immediately for Le Blow HQ*

If you need some light relief after contemplating your own mortality, head upstairs and check out the (rather bonkers) permanent collection, which includes vintage Japanese dildos, a Chinese torture chair and Napoleon’s toothbrush. Awesome.

Death: A Self-Portrait is at the Wellcome Collection until Sunday. Admission FREE. Visit wellcomecollection.org for full deets.

 

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