Micro Macro (front) and Myriad (rear) by Katharine Dowson

Chiltern Street has an amazing eclectic mix of shops ranging from luxury independent boutiques to the very practical Websters Hardware store. With the recent opening of the Chiltern Firehouse, the Evening Standard is calling it one of London’s top hotspots. GV Art, a contemporary gallery with an art and science focus, is one of my favourite places on the street to visit. Encyclopedia Galactica, their current exhibition, is on till 17 April 2014.

The Encyclopedia Galactica exhibition continues downstairs

GV Art is a contemporary art gallery which explores the inter - relationship between art and science. The gallery is much larger than it appears from outside as their exhibition space continues downstairs. The gallery curates several exhibitions each year. Encyclopedia Galactica is a retrospective of the artists and scientists that have featured in the gallery during the last five year and includes new and previously exhibited work. It explores the human experiences of trauma, illness and death.

 1.55 by Anaïs Tondeur

As a volunteer at Barts Pathology Museum I was interested to see 1.55 by Anaïs Tondeur. It’s named after the number given to one of their specimens, that of the bladder of a young girl who swallowed a pencil in 1914. Featuring in the gallery are six pencil drawings and a map. It follow Anaïs’s journey as she undertakes a visit to the original source of the graphite in France.

 1.55 by Anaïs Tondeur

My favourite of the 1.55 drawings is the one of the Conté pencil factory.

Self Portraits of William Utermohlen

The artist William Utermohlen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1995. Over the next twelve years he produced a fascinating series of self portraits in an attempt to try to understand his illness. The paintings have featured in The Lancet, the British medical journal in 2001, and his work has been used to help medical professionals gain a better insight into the impact of the disease.

Left to right:  Poisonous Sores, Head Cold and Head Ache by Helen Pynor

My favourite artwork on display were three beautiful photographic prints mounted on glass from Helen Pynor’s From Red Sea Blue Water series. She's an Australian artist with a scientific background with her work focusing on the human body.

Head Ache (detail) by Helen Pynor

Accompanying the exhibition are a series of regular events. 

On Wednesday 26th March 2014 at 1pm I will be leading a free guided walk for the Baker Street Quarter Patnership starting at 55 Baker Street. The walk is called Alternative Lunchtimes and will look at new places to visit and different things to do at lunch time. On the tour the group will visit the gallery briefly to see the exhibition and meet Robert Devcic, its curator, who will be available to answer questions about the exhibition.

Practical Information

Address:  49 Chiltern St, London W1U 6LY

Nearest Tube Station:  Baker Street in Travelcard zone I. The gallery is a five minute walk from the station.

Opening Times:  Tuesdays to Fridays 11am to 6pm, Saturdays 11am - 4pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Please check website for up to date details before travelling.

Encyclopedia Galactica is on until Thursday 17th April 2014.

Admission:  Free

Website:  http://www.gvart.co.uk/

If you liked this you might enjoy my blog about Barts Pathology Museum or read more about Centre of the Cell.

The author of this blog is a qualified City of London and City of Westminster Tour Guide who leads guided walks combining world famous landmarks with hidden treasures often missed by the crowds

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