In November 2025, Arts in Health visited the Wellcome Collection to see Thirst: In Search of Freshwater - a compelling exploration of humanity’s relationship with water. The exhibition spanned thousands of years and multiple continents - from ancient Mesopotamia and Victorian London to present-day Nepal and Singapore - using historical artefacts, scientific materials and contemporary artworks to reflect on how water shapes life, health, environment and culture.
The group had a warm welcome from the Visitor Experience team who hosted a brilliant tour. It began with an Old Babylonian clay tablet from present-day Iraq, thought to be around 4,000 years old, describing the earliest account of conflict over water; and ended with contemporary London-based photographer Chloe Dewe Mathews’ and her work Thames Log - a five-year documentation of life along the River Thames.
After the tour, the group spent time in the Wellcome’s learning studio exploring water-themed images by artists such as Margarethe Vanderpas, David Hockney and Nadav Kander. As ever, the visit and the studio time encouraged interesting reflections, connections and conversations. We’re grateful to the Wellcome Collection for the visit and look forward to returning.
If you are interested in hearing more about the work of Arts in Health, please do not hesitate to contact our team. You can email us on cnwlartsinhealth@nhs.net or visit our website.
