Mike Jay in Conversation with Kate Tiernan
Join the Co-Curators of Brilliant Visions, Mike Jay and Kate Tiernan, for a discussion about the recently opened exhibition. The event also marks the launch of Jay’s book ‘Mescaline: A Global History of the First Psychedelic’, of which copies will be available.
About the speakers
Mike Jay is the author of Mescaline: A Global History of the First Psychedelic, which will be published by Yale University Press on 14 May 2019. The book is a definitive history of mescaline that explores its mind- altering effects across cultures, from ancient America to Western modernity. Jay has written extensively on scientific and medical history. His books on the history of drugs include High Society: Mind-Altering Drugs in History and Culture and The Atmosphere of Heaven.
He was also the co-curator, with Bárbara Rodriguez Muñoz, of Wellcome Collection’s Bedlam: the asylum and beyond (Sept 2016 – Jan 2017). He is the author of the accompanying book, This Way Madness Lies, published by Thames & Hudson. As a former trustee of the Bethlem Art and History Collections Trust, he was involved in developing and designing Bethlem Museum of the Mind’s displays
Kate Tiernan is Curator of Bethlem Museum of the Mind’s Public Programmes and Exhibitions, and multi-disciplinary artist with a particular interest in cognitive empathy and catharsis, creating encounters integrating objects and built environments, and using text and performance to explore spatial relationships and philosophical conundrums.
Kate has worked with Bethlem Museum of The Mind, Tate and V&A, presenting exhibitions, performances and talks, and has also been commissioned by Arnolfini, Above the Arts, Battersea Arts Centre, The British Museum, Cape Town Festival, Charles Dickens Museum, HT Hall, P2, RADA, Vault Festival and Sluice Art Fair. Past residencies include Metal (Southend), DRIFT (Rio de Janiro) Platform (London). Productions include Refuge Requiem, Echo Chamber, Life Support, Freight, Underground and Holy Contract.
Image: Basil Beaumont, Green Abstract, 1936, Courtesy of the Estate of Basil Rakoczi
The event is free but booking in advance is recommended.