Anatomy Acts – A New Exhibition Combining Art and Science
A new touring exhibition called Anatomy Acts which explores the human body inside and out will be coming to Inverness following a successful visit to the Swanson Gallery in Thurso. The exhibition, which opens in the city on the evening of Friday 30 March, features rare and extraordinary objects and specimens from Scottish collections. Objects, some centuries old, and on public display for the first time, are shown alongside the latest in body imaging technologies.
Many of the exhibits on display in the exhibition were originally created to teach medicine and advance our understanding of the human body. They include accurate representations of the human anatomy through models, drawings, prints, photographs and a small number of human specimens.
The exhibition has been nominated to go on the long list for the prestigious Gulbenkian Prize for Museums and Galleries. Judging took place last month when Anatomy Acts was on display in Thurso and the short list will be announced to coincide with the opening of Anatomy Acts in Inverness. The overall winner will be announced on the 24 May.
The Highland Council’s Exhibitions Officer, Astrid Shearer said: “During 2007, the year when Scotland celebrates Highland Culture, Highland Council is delighted to host this exhibition at two of our galleries, combining as it does four aspects of our culture: arts, heritage, language and science.
"The exquisitely detailed models and drawings on display are unacknowledged works of art, created by artists well known to those who have studied medicine, but little known to the general public. The exhibits on display provide an excellent and unique teaching resource for schools so we have organized a series of talks and workshops for both schools and adults to run during the exhibition.”
Here are details of the events.
• On Wednesday 4 April school groups will be invited to come along to special drawing sessions with breakdancer Shabaz as their model.
• On Saturday 7 April from 10am to 4pm there will be a life drawing class suitable for adults including students preparing their portfolio. Places are limited so early booking is advisable.
• On Tuesday 10 April at 7pm there will be a discussion between Tim Palmer, Head Pathologist at Raigmore Hospital and artist Dean Melville looking at both the differences and the similarities of how these two professions perceive the human body.
• During the afternoon on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 April Anatomy Acts drawing classes will run for school groups so they can draw the superb exhibits on display.
• On Wednesday 18 April from 2pm to 3pm Nicola Morgan, author of novels for young adults, talks about how real events in 19th century Edinburgh provided the inspiration for her award wining book “Fleshmarket” and how the issues of scientific ethics raised are as relevant today.
Anyone interested in finding out further information about these events or anyone wanting to make a booking should contact The Highland Council’s Exhibition Unit on 01463 710978.
Anatomy Acts will run in Inverness from Friday 30 March until Saturday 28 April. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free.
The exhibition does contain a small number of human remains and representations of the human body that some people may find unsettling.