Hugh Turvey accepted permanent residency at the British Institute of Radiology (BIR) where he will gain access to the historical collections and libraries and be able to work closely with the marketing and events manager to develop the tool further and decide on the best way to disseminate it more widely. Research into the history of the technology and images produced, and looking at early literature such as Kitty Clarke’s first manual for X-Ray, will feed into developing an imaginative and innovative visual tool. This project aims to contribute to a re-engagement between the public and contemporary biomedical imaging techniques.

The British Institute of Radiology believes in the importance of research and education, and they promote collaboration and the sharing of knowledge and understanding. Hugh Turvey has a permanant exhibition of his x-ray photographs in their London headquarters.

Lizette van Niekerk is Marketing and Events Manager at The British Institute of Radiology and is responsible for bringing the work of the Institute to a wider audience and for highlighting the advances made by members of the Institute who have included pioneers of x-ray and CT. Lizette was previously involved in a project where an artist in residence at St Bartholomew’s Hospital produced very frank and sometimes unsettling portraits of patients who had undergone disfiguring facial surgery. These patients described the experience as “uplifting” and “taking away the shame”. She has seen first hand how beneficial art and medical/science collaborations can be for the patients and staff and can create more understanding amongst the public.



See the Spring 2010 news letter from the BIR here announcing my residency...  (and if anyone is curious my image on the cover is bladderwrack seaweed)



BIR Website: http://www.bir.org.uk