Ayurvedic Man: Encounters with Indian Medicine

 

This small exhibition (running from 16th November 2017 – 8th April 2018) confronts the visitor with a question – what happens when an ancient but living tradition, which embraces not only physical ailments but finer qualities of consciousness and energies meets with the more rationalistic “modern” approach to medical diagnostic and treatment? Refreshingly, there is no rush to judgement or conclusion here, but the question is enlivened by some interesting exhibits from the Wellcome collection including a number of lively and colourful paintings and drawings.  A new film of two traditional medical practitioners in different regions of India going through the cycle of planting herbs and describing their work and knowledge of the medicinal properties of various plants touchingly conveys an understanding which is developed not just in the intellect but in the body and feelings.