Science Gallery Bengaluru launches new exhibition PSYCHE in Kannada

Bangalore : Science Gallery Bengaluru is showcasing its ongoing digital exhibition season, PSYCHE that explores the human mind and the complexities of thinking and feeling in Kannada till 15 May 2022. The exhibition explores the complexities of the human mind in socio-political and cultural contexts and is developed in collaboration with National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance, The Wellbeing Project and Museum Dr. Guislain, Ghent.

Science Gallery Bengaluru is a public institution for research based engagement targeted at young adults. It has been established with the founding support of the Government of Karnataka and three academic partners – Indian Institute of Science, National Centre for Biological Sciences, and Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology and is a member of the Global Science Gallery Network with sister galleries in Atlanta, Detroit, Dublin, London, Melbourne, Rotterdam, and Berlin.

Through its many exhibitions, the institution has been bringing science into mainstream culture and with this exhibition, it continues to break language barriers and make it accessible to varied audiences. Curated by the Science Gallery Bengaluru team, PSYCHE brings together philosophers, neuroscientists, artists, psychologists, filmmakers, sociologists, writers and performers. Shaped with the advice of a multidisciplinary panel of scholars – Richard Wingate, Sanjeev Jain, Ulrike Kluge and Vikram Patel, and curatorial advisors – Jill Bennett, Marius Kwint, Natasha Ginwala and Ruth Garde, the exhibition will feature 10 exhibits, 6 films and 40+ live programmes including workshops, masterclasses and public lectures.

While seeking to break down barriers between research and society, the 10 multidisciplinary projects trace the complexities of the mind from the depths of anxiety to the heights of euphoria. ‘The Asylum’ examines the history of mental institutions in India set up during the colonial period through text and archival images, provided by NIMHANS Museum. ‘Hamlets Live’ is a 6-part performance that explores (Shakespeare’s) Hamlet’s inner monologues in a world that is strongly dictated by the real and hyperreal aspects of social media. The performance is directed by Chanakya Vyas, director, playwright and teacher based out of Bengaluru.

Schizophrenia and the Brain by Makarand V. Pantoji (Senior Resident Doctor in the Department of Psychiatry,

NIMHANS) and Urvakhsh M Mehta (Additional Professor of Psychiatry at NIMHANS explores ongoing clinical research that can help understand and identify schizophrenia.

Some of the upcoming lectures in Kannada include Tracing the Trail: From Memory to Neurons by Ravi Muddashetty (Molecular Biologist) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Methods by Janardhan Reddy (Professor, NIMHANS) and Severe Mental Illnesses: What Should One Know by Jagadisha Thirthalli (Psychiatrist)

“We must all do our best to create vibrant intellectual lives in Indian languages. This is the only way to keep our languages alive and our cultures growing to meet this moment. For us, at Science Gallery Bengaluru, we are committed to creating high quality content in both English and Kannada. In due course we will expand our offering to other Indian languages also. This is the only way to make sure the Gallery is seen as a public institution!” – Jahnavi Phalkey, Founding Director, Science Gallery Bengaluru

Other exhibit highlights that viewers can explore in Kannada include – an audio-visual installation ‘Black Men’s Minds’ which rests upon the voices of black men who are often missing in conversations on mental health, trauma and stigma. ‘McGill Pain Questionnaire’ visually investigates the objective method for appraising pain (endometriosis and adenomyosis), in relation to a subjective experience against the backdrop of a classic clinical pain assessment tool. The exhibits also feature interactive experiences such as ‘Playing with Reality’, based on the winner of the Best VR Immersive Work in 2021 at the Venice International Film Festival which unravels what the phenomenon of psychosis can teach about the limits of reality; ‘The Serpent of A Thousand Coils’ gives participants of the game an empathetic insight into the minds of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD); another participatory web experience ‘Change My Mind’ helps understand the implication of brain implants on the mind.

PSYCHE will also include film screenings and discussions, masterclasses, workshops, quizzes, panel discussions, and a museum walkthrough. An activity handbook, audio and reading material, and a video-game arcade will allow the audience to delve further into the topic. PSYCHE is also showcasing responses from the audience to the outreach programmes in the run-up to the exhibition – Writing Prompts and Photo Prompts – in which select participants have been mentored by Anmol Tikoo and Sharbendu De respectively.

You can view the exhibition (and register for upcoming lectures, masterclasses, tutorials) here : https://psyche.scigalleryblr.org