1. Of all the human senses, touch is the one that is often taken for granted. Unlike the other senses, however, it is one that is very rarely lost. This makes it one of the most robust and reliable interactions that humans can have with the outside world. Touch has a preeminent capacity to link with memory, in order to aid recall or recognition.

2. Compassion is crucial to understanding patients’ stories and to providing them with care. Touch can be a way of communicating compassion and empathy towards patients. Yet modern technology, such as imaging, means care professionals may touch patients less than they would have previously.

3. Many people feel out of touch with nature and with their own nature. Many assumptions are made about who does and who does not, or who can and cannot, appreciate nature and their own nature.

Students on the intercalated BA in Medical Humanities have brought together works, videos and talks from a variety of artists, academics, and care professionals based in and around Bristol which explore touch from these three perspectives.

Curated works include: images of works from the Franko B. archive (with grateful thanks for the permission); works arising out of the collaboration between Georgina Morley (critical care nurse and PhD) and Annie Sharon Fox (artist and art psychotherapist) exploring moral distress; a curated playlist for the exhibition by Yuki Ame; a talk by Dr Alan Kellas on Thursday afternoon; street art going up on the wall by The Bad Doctor; and more to come.

FAQs

Access — The venue is fully wheelchair accessible, but unfortunately its toilets are not. PRSC intend to adapt the toilets in the future as they continue to develop the building.