The Centre Cannot Hold

"A Picture of Health" is a well-known phrase that conjures up a wide range of imagery and interpretations across communities and scientific disciplines. Artwork on this theme created by five artist-scientist groups, the culmination of a collaborative project between MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences and Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts, London, reflects current research topics vital to human health.

This artwork by artists Lottie Bolster, Rosie Riley and Teresa Byrne explores commonalities between dementia, schizophrenia and psychological effects of trauma. Distortion, repetition and removal, common attributes between these three ‘brain illnesses’, were conveyed by the artists in three pieces of work. In visually depicting these similarities, they highlight and encourage conversations around the discrete categorisation of ‘brain illnesses’, the current dichotomy between psychological and biological, and the boundaries of illness and health.

"A Picture of Health" artwork can be seen at the Science Museum Lates in London this week

Written by Sophie Arthur and Lucy Brown

Sophie Arthur and Lucy Brown

Writers - former MRC LMS Science Communications Officer (SA) and Engagement Project Manager (LB)

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• Image of work by Lottie Bolster, Rosie Riley and Teresa Byrne photographed by Jody Kingzett
• MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, and Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts, London UK
• Image copyright held by the photographer