High Society at Wellcome Collection

High Society at Wellcome Collection examines the medical and social history of drug taking around the world in its winter exhibition, and highlights just how prevalent the use of psychoactive drugs have been over the centuries. Bringing together a fascinating selection of exhibits and works of art, High Society aims to take an objective look at both the illegal and legal drugs still in use today.

High Society at Wellcome Collection
Taking a closer look at the different drugs that have been used for various purposes over the years, the Wellcome Collection exhibition also attempts to get to grips with the seemingly endless supply of drugs on the streets and the internet. Are we in the middle of an unprecedented level of drug addiction or is this simply a continuation of drug use throughout history? From alcohol, coffee and tobacco to ancient Egyptian poppy tinctures, High Society shows how drugs have always been part of our everyday lives.

Personal use
Asides from being used in medicine to cure illnesses and relieve pain, drugs have historically had a wide and varied set of purposes. From sacraments and status symbols to being used to stimulate the brain, inspire creativity or as a way to encounter the divine, drugs have long since been fetishised and demonised by many cultures and societies. Whether in use in French art salons or as part of a Native American peyote rite, High Society at Wellcome Collection shows that drugs are part and parcel of certain social and ritualistic elements of society.

Exhibition highlights
Several fascinating exhibits are included in High Society at Wellcome Collection including a bottle of Victorian cocaine eye drops and a hallucinogenic snuff set collected by a 19th century explorer in the Amazon. Other artefacts on show include Coleridge's Kubla Khan manuscript which was said to have been inspired by an opium dream and a document by Captain Thomas Bowrey describing his crew's experiments with a cannabis drink in 17th century Bengal. The exhibition also showcases work by contemporary artists inspired by the nature of drug use and culture.

High Society at Wellcome Collection takes place from 10am - 6pm Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 5pm Sundays, from Thursday 11th November 2010 - Sunday 27th February 2011. Entrance is free.

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