A new Ingram Collection exhibition, Health and the Body, has just opened at the Royal College of General Practitioners in London.
The exhibition showcases a group of paintings and sculptures against the stunning backdrop of the RCGP’s recently-renovated Grade II* listed building, using works by artists such as Eduardo Paolozzi, Barbara Hepworth, Geoffrey Clarke and Leon Underwood to explore representations of the human body, and look at how these intersect with the history of general practice.
Dr Terry Kemple, President of the Royal College of GPs, says: “Health and the Body tells a story of medicine through the eyes of artists, but it also casts the looking glass back, giving a snapshot of the artists’ own health at time of creation.
“Barbara Hepworth’s drawings of surgery are tied to the time of the hospitalisation of her own daughter, whilst John Bellany’s Self Portrait in Hospital was painted hours after he received a liver transplant. Michael Ayrton too, cast bronze sculptures examining the physical capabilities and limitations of the human body, paradoxical to his own limited and deteriorating health at the time.
“We want visitors to this exhibition to consider how the objects represent the diversity of medicine and some of what our profession is about – the body, its health, and general practice. We thank Chris Ingram for allowing us to share this story of medicine in the home of general practice.”
Chris Ingram comments: “I’m absolutely delighted to be loaning these pieces to the Royal College of General Practitioners. 30 Euston Square is a stunning location, which can only enhance the art on display. The RCGPs pre-occupation with health made this a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase highlights from one of the strongest aspects of The Ingram Collection – the human body – where we have over 70 pieces.”
Health and the Body: The Ingram Collection at the RCGP, 3 March – 29 May 2016
Royal College of General Practitioners, 30 Euston Square, London, NW1 2FB
Free entry
http://www.rcgp.org.uk/
About the RCGP:
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 50,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. They work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.
Featured artists:
Michael Ayrton
John Bellany, R.A.
Reg Butler
Aleah Chapin
Geoffrey Clarke
John Davies
Dame Elisabeth Frink, R.A.
Henri Gaudier-Brzeska
Dame Barbara Hepworth
Lucy Jones
Bernard Meadows
Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, R.A.
William Roberts, R.A.
Leonard Rosoman, OBE, R.A.
Leon Underwood