(Above) Killing Time, H McMahon. © the artist

Body of Work, an exhibition looking at the links between art and medicine, has been launched at the Naughton Gallery at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and runs until May 25 2006.

The exhibition, which consists of the finalists in the fifth annual open art competition organised by the Naughton Gallery at Queen's and sponsored by Queen's University School of Nursing & Midwifery, contains work in a variety of media that reflects a rich and fascinating subject.

"From the anatomical drawings of Da Vinci right through to the medical and pharmaceutical themed installations of Damien Hirst, there is a long and fascinating history of links between art and medicine,” explained Shan McAnena, curator of the Naughton Gallery at Queen's.

Inner Core III, D Baillie. © the artist

“Body of Work further explores these links in the light of current art techniques and recent developments in medical technology and practice, leading to an unusual and revealing look at all aspects of health care - for mind, body and spirit.”

Revisiting these historic links has resulted in some innovative work including everything from a bottle of machine knitted pills to a wooden display cabinet symbolising the human body.

“The standard of work in this exhibition is exceptional and selecting the pieces for the show was extremely difficult,” added McAnena. “The result is an innovative, beautiful and thought-provoking exhibition showcasing some of the best of Irish contemporary art practice."

Whisper, A Gallagher. © the artist

Artists were asked to think about health in the broadest sense, drawing not only on body, mind and spirit at an individual level but also on the influence of culture, environment and society on the well-being of the population.

The resulting selection reflects issues concerning both health care professionals and the population at large in the 21st century.

QUB History of Art lecturer Amanda Croft will be giving a Gallery Talk on the exhibition at the Naughton Gallery at Queen's on Saturday April 22 and Saturday May 20 2006 at 12 noon. Admission is free.