Great achievements in modern medicine have enhanced our knowledge and treatment of many diseases, but understanding what it feels like to be sick requires more than technological advances and medical science. The facts of disease are objective and readily available, whereas illness is subjective, less accessible, difficult to teach, and sadly, often neglected.

Although the developed world has been relieved of many scourges, chronic illness is widespread and increasing in prevalence. Few are spared the experience of illness or can avoid being touched by it, either personally or because of the misfortune of a loved one. This exhibition presents different perspectives on the experience of illness, from the candid self-portraits of Jo Spence during her cancer treatment to the tender and compassionate portraits of patients by Cecily Brennan, through to the tongue-in-cheek pharmaceuticals invented by Damien Hirst.

Curated by Fiona Kearney in association with the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, UCC

Lower and Upper Galleries, 23 November 2012 - 10 March 2013
Artists: Cecily Brennan, Martin Creed, Terry Dennett, Damien Hirst, Laura Potter, Mary Rose O'Neill, The Project Twins, Paul Seawright, Jo Spence, Thomas Struth, and supporting material from the Wellcome Collection.

http://www.glucksman.org

Collection Artist(s)