The fascinating HUMAN RACE exhibition comes to the Highlands
The fascinating HUMAN RACE exhibition comes to the Highlands
An extraordinary exhibition which explores the history, development and ethics of sport and exercise medicine opens at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery on Friday 25 May 2012.
Human Race uses Scottish medical and sporting collections, newly commissioned artworks and rare film footage to highlight some of the pioneering and far reaching developments that have taken place in Sport and Exercise Medicine over the last 200 years.
Every object has its story to tell in the fascinating journey from the early developments of technology in medicine to the equipment at the forefront of modern sports treatment. The majority of the 100+ items, drawn from Scottish medical and national collections, will be on public display for the first time. Objects include Bronze Age wrist protectors and rarely seen film footage to early anatomical specimens and the latest body imaging techniques.
The exhibition also features some of the intriguing characters that helped shaped the development of sports medicine over the past two centuries. The ‘celebrated pedestrian’ Captain Barclay is just one of these. In 1807 he accepted a bet to walk 1,000 miles in 1,000 consecutive hours. To the astonishment of many he won the bet! Captain Barclay’s whip is one of the featured exhibits. Other exhibits include the makeshift face protector used by Dr George Pirie during his ground-breaking work on the development of X-rays and instruments used by Professor Ian Smillie, a pioneer of modern knee surgery.
A notable feature of this unique exhibition is the inclusion of contemporary art. Four Scottish artists were commissioned to introduce creative voices and a contemporary perspective to the rich material and themes of the exhibition. Each artist found their own points of interest and stories which they expressed through their individual projects.
An exciting and varied programme of associated events will run alongside the exhibition. Events include talks, exhibition tours, a schools programme, workshops and film screenings. These will bring together artists, practitioners, athletes and writers to explore, discuss and debate the core themes of the exhibition as well as some of the more complex and often hidden issues that surround the culture of sport.
To celebrate the Olympic Torch coming to Inverness Human Race have organised a full day of events at the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery on Saturday 9 June from 11am – 4pm. Activities include guided tours of the Human Race exhibition, dance performances by the human robot dancer and a chance to challenge your strength and agility with Glasgow Science Centre’s Body Works Sports Station. Everything is free and there is no need to book, just come along and enjoy a day of fun activities for all the family.
The exhibition runs at Inverness Museum & Art Gallery 25 May to 7 July 2012.
Human Race is an official part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. It is funded by Legacy Trust UK and Creative Scotland National Lottery Fund and is part of The Scottish Project. The Scottish Project is Legacy Trust UK’s programme in Scotland which will create a cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games across the country.
For more information about the exhibition and events go to the Human Race website at humanrace.org.uk or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
Kitty Chilcott, Scotland & Medicine Partnership said
“Throughout the project we have had the privilege of working with leading researchers and practitioners and had access to Scotland’s historical collections. This has given us a fascinating insight and understanding of Scotland’s impact on the history and development of sports medicine. “It’s been a journey of discovery, from the first x-ray film to the innovations and developments of Scottish medical pioneers. The Human Race exhibition will give the visitor an opportunity of discovering for themselves the impact that sport and exercise medicine has had on the culture of sport today and see just how far we have come since the days of the magic sponge’.
Human Race poet Kona Macphee, said:
“Given [my] childhood fascination with matters biomedical, it was a particular pleasure to be commissioned by Scotland & Medicine to produce a series of poems for the Human Race. I’ve always believed that the most interesting ideas and inventions tend to emerge at the intersection of different disciplines. An example is the exciting field of biomimetics, where design and engineering take their inspiration from “technologies” that have evolved in nature.”
Moira Swinbank, Chief Executive of Legacy Trust UK said:
“This innovative and exciting exhibition is helping to bring Scottish history to life through a wide range of activities to ensure that there is something for everyone. Legacy Trust UK is delighted to be funding Human Race and that this exhibition is part of the Olympic Torch’s route across the country, and we hope that people in Inverness will turn out in force to support this project and to learn more about this fascinating element of sports medicine’s history.”
Judi Menabney, Principal Cultural Officer, High Life Highland High Life
Highland are delighted to be hosting the Human Race exhibition at Inverness Museum & Art Gallery.The programme of events, combining sport, art, medicine and history, has something for everyone with a special day on June 9th when the Olympic torch will be passing through Inverness.
“Human Race is a fascinating journey, starting at the origins of sports medicine and finishing with the modern day technology that supports the pinnacle of human achievement we celebrate at the Olympics. The exhibition is full of astounding innovation and is a useful reminder of how far sports medicine has come.”
Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive of Creative Scotland
‘This is a truly fascinating exhibition which will take visitors through an intriguing journey exploring the history, culture and science of sport and exercise. We look forward to seeing how the four artists respond to the rich material and themes of the exhibition. This will be an extra special exhibition in this the Year of Creative Scotland 2012 and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games’
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For further information or high resolution images please phone Kitty Chilcott, RCSEd on 0131 527 1607 or email humanrace@rcsed.ac.uk
Notes for Editors
- Human Race has been funded by Legacy Trust UK and Creative Scotland National Lottery Fund. LTUK are creating a lasting impact from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by funding ideas and local talent to inspire creativity across the UK.The Trust is funded by a £40 million endowment from the Big Lottery Fund (£29m), Department for Culture Media and Sport (£6m) and Arts Council England (£5m), and is a Principal Funder of the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival. www.legacytrustuk.org
- The Human Race project is an official part of the Cultural Olympiad, which is the programme of cultural events for the 2012 Games.
- Scotland & Medicine Partnership was established in 2004 to improve access to, and promote the knowledge of, health and medical related collections held in Scotland and to increase public awareness of Scotland’s global impact on the history and development of medicine. The partnership consists of 23 organisations and The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) is the lead partner.
- Human Race on Twitter: http://twitter.com/HumanRaceUK
- Human Race on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Human-Race-inside-the-science-of-sports-medicine
Human Race Exhibition 2012 schedule
INVERNESS
25 MAY – 7 JULY
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
EDINBURGH
21 JULY – 9 SEPTEMBER
City Art Centre, Edinburgh
Royal Commonwealth Pool
DUNDEE
21 SEPTEMBER – 10 NOVEMBER
Lamb Gallery, University of Dundee
&
Institute of Sport and Exercise, University of Dundee
