106346/Z/14/Z: A Creative Exploration of BSE and CJD

Project Summary:Britain Can Make It is a thought-provoking artist-curated exhibition at the Hayward Gallery (10 February - 26 April 2015) that reflected on a series of pivotal events and episodes to affect British life since the end of World War II. As part of the exhibition, Turner Prize nominee Roger Hiorns will curate a section exploring the biological and social impact of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and its human corollary Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). Working alongside leading scientific experts in the field, Hiorns will undertake a serious investigation of BSE and vCJD, its social and cultural impact and related developments in agriculture, animal husbandry, food production and consumption. The results will be presented in a visually exciting, multi-layered display containing art works, scientific research, cultural artefacts and newly created work. Hiorns' approach will create an stimulating and unexpected forum for visitors to informally learn about the history and s cientific complexities of BSE and vCJD and its relevance to many contemporary debates about disease, risk, agriculture and food, while the accompanying public programme will offer opportunities for deeper engagement. By taking an innovative cross-disciplinary approach to research and presentation and placing live issues in biomedical science in a gallery setting for the first time, we will be exploring new methods of curation, interpretation and audience engagement for biomedical science, wh ich we hope will have a wider impact on public engagement with science.

Grant Holder:Ms Alison Bowyer

Organisation:Miscellaneous London

Financial Year:2014/2015