3rd July 2014
PAINTING PORTRAITS: challenges of being looked at, and of looking at disfigurement.
Durham Light Infantry Museum Art Gallery, 6-7:30 pm
Free event supported by the Centre for Medical Humanities, Durham University, and Wellcome Trust.
In association with the exhibition ‘War, Art and Surgery’ by Julia Midgley, the Booker prize winning author Pat Barker and Professor Jonathan Cole, a consultant neurophysiologist and author of The Invisible Smile: Living without Facial Expression, will present a lively evening of readings from their books and discussion about portrait painting in the context of injury and disfigurement. A focus will be the question ‘what is it like to have your portrait painted when you have lost or never had facial expression’. There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions and join in the discussion, as well as view the exhibition. This is a follow up from CMH’s successful exhibition in 2012, ‘About Face’, which featured the works of WWI artist Henry Tonks. We do hope you will be able to join us. The event will include a free opportunity to look round the exhibition which opens on 28th June.
The evening will conclude with a glass of wine and canapés with the authors. Visit the DLI website for directions, Aykley Heads, Durham DH1 5TU.
Please RSVP to CMH if you wish to attend. This event is free and open to all.