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Why Music Object Spotlight

As Radio 3 takes up residence at Wellcome Collection in London to explore what makes music a vital part of being human, comedian and actor, Gryff Rhys Jones explores a history of health through objects on display.

Gwyneth Rowlands, 'woman's head'

Gwyneth Rowlands, 'woman's head', watercolour, Indian ink and varnish on flint.
On long term display at Wellcome Reading Room.

  • Edward Adamson was a pioneer of art therapy, and spent most of his career at the Netherne Hospital in Surrey
  • The phrase 'art therapy' was originally coined by artist Adrian Hill in 1942
  • Adamson's art therapy aimed to give patients with psychiatric issues the ability to express their inner minds through art
  • Art therapy became linked with the outsider art movement, where the ethos is to create art for yourself and no other reason
  • When Adamson retired in 1981 over 100,000 pieces of art had been created in his 35 years working at the Netherne Hospital. A collection of around 6,000 is now located at Wellcome Collection.
Image courtesy of the Adamson Collection Trust

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Object spotlight: Gwyneth Rowlands, 'woman's head'

Gryff Rhys Jones and Simon Chaplin discuss a work of art on a piece of flint.

This is one of five objects explored as part of Why Music a partnership between BBC Radio 3 and Wellcome Collection.