Wellcome Trust - Play Well

Wellcome Trust Exhibition

The Wellcome Trust explore the connections between science, medicine, life and art through permanent and temporary exhibitions. I recommend visiting, they have some fascinating shows dealing with the integration of art and science can have on wellbeing. I had a look at the Play Well exhibition, searching for examples of the role of play in wellbeing.

Summary

Why do we play? How important is it for all of us, young or old? What does it mean to play well? The first section, ‘Nature/ Nurture,’ examines the importance of play in child development and education, and how it can be employed in therapeutic work. The role of play and its therapeutic importance in uncovering trauma is considered with material from pioneers in the field such as Margaret Lowenfeld and D.W Winnicott, whose archives are held at Wellcome Collection.

A sobering piece by Spence reflected on the less high-tech world she lived and died in. She displayed mainly photographs and collages about her life and experience of cancer treatment in the NHS.

Read more about the exhibition here: Play Well | Wellcome Collection