Curiosity Exhibition Blends Art and Science from 15th Century to Present

The exhibition 'Curiosity - Art and the Pleasure of Knowing,' curated by Brian Dillon, presents a modern wunderkammer showcasing a mix of artworks, scientific specimens, and historical items spanning from the fifteenth century to today. Notable pieces include Leonardo's sketches, Victorian glass models of marine life by Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka, Nina Canell's 2009 radiometer sculpture titled 'The New Mineral,' and Laurent Grasso's images of popes. Additional highlights comprise Miroslav Tichý's photographs of women, a 1893 taxidermied Canadian walrus, Albrecht Dürer's 1515 rhinoceros etching, and Robert Hooke's flea drawing from 1665. Gerard Byrne's film 'Figures' (2001–11) and the series 'Connecting Shapes' (2001–) delve into Loch Ness. The exhibition also tackles legal disputes regarding the classification of 'things' as either nature or culture, including a case involving the Harold Lloyd corporation and Universal Pictures. Initially reviewed in September 2013, it attracted large crowds in South London.