AYURVEDIC MAN EXHIBITION AT WELLCOME COLLECTION
In a wonderful turn of events, the publication of my book, East by West, coincided with the opening of the fascinating Ayurvedic Man exhibition at Wellcome Collection, in November 2017. Wellcome is a free museum and library that offers an extensive programme of exhibitions, workshops, special events and more right in the heart of London. Situated across from the street from Euston Station, it is the perfect place to visit for anyone coming from out of town.
"Ayurvedic Man," photo from Wellcome Collection
Ayurvedic Man, which runs until April 2018, maps encounters between medical practitioners, between cultures, and between continents — across India and beyond. Drawing from Wellcome's historical collections and featuring two new commissions, this exhibition is a great avenue if you want to delve deeper into the roots of Ayurveda, or if you're just curious as to where it all started.
First and foremost, you can expect to see the exhibition's eponymous painting, an 18th-century Nepali anatomical representation of a man according to Ayurvedic tradition, which travelled from Nepal through India to the West, where the fascination with Eastern medicine is long-standing. Alongside "Ayurvedic Man," you will discover replicas of ancient surgical tools, as well as art depicting various aspects of the Ayurvedic lifestyle, and many more treasures.
To top it off, there is a section of the exhibition where both local community groups and visitors are invited to share their Ayurvedic recipes — using a selection of eight healing ingredients — which are then compiled into digital recipe books for you to consult.
The exhibition runs in parallel to my East by West menu at the Wellcome Kitchen, so if you're ready to invest in the life-changing power of Ayurveda this year, you know where to go!
Learn more about Ayurvedic Man here.
Curious about Ayurveda in general? Find out more here.
Votives, photo from Wellcome Collection
Replicas of ancient surgical tools, photo from Wellcome Collection