Wellcome Collection Exhibition Explores Aging Through Historical and Contemporary Objects

The Wellcome Collection in London is presenting 'The Coming of Age,' an exhibition examining aging through various artifacts. The display includes Japan's ceremonial sake cups given to centenarians, Charles Darwin's walking stick with a skull tip, and Sam Taylor-Wood's decaying still life artwork. Japan began awarding silver sake cups to citizens reaching 100 years old in 1963, but due to increasing longevity, the government switched to cheaper nickel-silver alloy versions by the mid-2010s. Curator Shamita Sharmacharja organized the exhibition, which addresses societal attitudes toward aging through historical and artistic perspectives.