Wonder Art and Science on the Brain 2 Mar–10 Apr A season to light up the mind with film, theatre, music, talks and participation #wonderseason barbican.org.uk/wonder Wonder #wonderseason Art and Science on the Brain Institut Film Svensk © barbican.org.uk/wonder © Heidi Cartwright Heidi © Sautoy du Marcus Persona The Barbican’s season Wonder: Art and The very nature of the season has already Science on the Brain puts the growing broken down barriers, since it followed the Barbican Weekender Prof Marcus du Sautoy Wonder on Film relationship between the arts and decision of the British Neuroscience Association 2–3 Mar / Page 3 2 Mar / Page 8 2 Mar–10 Apr / Page 9 neuroscience under the microscope. to hold their science conference BNA 2013: Among the headline attractions in Festival of Neuroscience at the Barbican. this collaboration with the Wellcome Wonder will bring together neuroscientists Trust are an audio-visual lecture on the from around the world to exchange the theme of consciousness from Oxford latest knowledge about brain research. Professor of Public Understanding of Science Marcus du Sautoy, a free ‘We really wanted to give the public a sense weekend of art and science events, of what is going on in the building as well as and a talk by comedian Ruby Wax give the scientists a sense they are in an arts about her struggle with depression. centre,’ said Sean Gregory, the Barbican’s director of creative learning. Perhaps one of The season will also feature films about the most outward-looking elements, Gregory neuroscience and mental health and a believes, will be this year’s Barbican Box theatrical recreation of a 19th-century Parisian project, put together with the innovative theatre debating salon. For du Sautoy, the old company Complicite thanks to the long-held © Tommy Ga-Ken Wan © Guerilla Science © Robert Kingham distinction between the ’two cultures’ of science interest in neuroscience of Simon McBurney, and the arts is finally, and rightly, fading away. its artistic director. A battered suitcase, full The Salon Project Wonder Street Fair Grey Soul of London He believes imagination has always been of clues about a particular scientist and their 4–14 Apr / Page 13 7, 8 and 9 Apr / Page 14 7 and 8 Apr / Page 19 important in science, just as rigorous analysis discoveries, will be delivered to participating has always been useful to the artist. ‘In science schools in surrounding London boroughs. our common sense is often our worst enemy,’ he says. Du Sautoy, who worked with McBurney on A Disappearing Number, is also keen to be The Wellcome Trust has long supported part of a season that brings arts and science activities that allow scientists and artists to together. ‘Scientists and artists are often engage on an equal footing but has rarely homing in on the same structures. Keats brought their activities to the public on such wrote “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”, a large scale. Dr Amy Sanders, of the Trust’s but I wonder whether the truth is that we Special Projects team, says ’science is part call things beautiful when we recognise of culture and we are excited about this something useful in their structures.’ opportunity to bring people into contact with the latest research and to enable scientists Vanessa Thorpe to look at their work from new perspectives.’ © Ruby Wax Leadership Collection Wellcome © McBeth Glen © Researchers are at the heart of the Wonder For more information on Barbican Box, season, whether talking about their work at please visit barbicanbox.org.uk Ruby Wax Packed Lunch I'm a Neuroscientist Get Introduction the Salon, competing for the public votes 8 Apr / Page 20 8–10 Apr / Page 21 Me Out of Here LIVE! at a glance Wonder in ‘I’m a neuroscientist get me out of here 9 Apr / Page 21 ...’ or knitting neurons in the Street Fair. 1 2 2–3 Mar, 11am–6pm, Barbican foyers Sat and Sun 11.15am, 12.30pm, 1.45pm, 3pm, 4.15pm and 5.30pm Barbican Mezzanine floor, level M Jelly Brain Dissection Wonder Weekender: Guerilla Science Come and dissect, discuss and digest the Brain Waves most complex thing in the known universe. Explore the evolutionary history of the brain #wonderseason with Guerilla Science as they serve up Art and neuroscience put their heads together a range of delectable jelly brain creations this March for an array of creative events that from across the animal kingdom. are sure to blow your mind. Bring your family and your friends along for two brainy days of Free, sign up on the day dance, theatre, music and art for all ages. Join us on a journey into the Barbican’s grey Christopher Green © Tom L Russell Sat and Sun 11am–6pm matter and uncover facts, fiction and have fun Hammerson Room, Mezzanine level with all things cerebral – it’s a no-brainer. Sat 11am–7pm, Sun 11am–6pm ClubStage, level -1 Memory Clinic The Singing Hypnotist’s Tent Guerilla Science Christopher Green and friends Guerilla Science invite you to explore Experience the amazing power of the human your memories and leave one for safe- mind and the mysteries of mesmerism as keeping in our collection of test tube The Singing Hypnotist sings you into a treasures, designed by artist Evy Jokhova. trance. Learn how the mind can be set free Plus, join Grand Master of Memory Ed Cooke of everyday concerns and feel better than to learn how to remember you ever thought possible. Live hypnosis everything you never thought you could. will be performed on willing volunteers Free, drop in from the audience by accredited stage hypnotist Christopher Green. Sat and Sun 11am–6pm Volunteers, who must be aged 18 or Mezzanine, level M over, can refuse at any point to continue taking part in the performance Sonic Tour of the Brain Free, sign up on the day Guerilla Science What does the brain sound like? Join Guerilla Science and their giant brain as they take you Sat and Sun 11am–6pm through a range of recordings, from hissing Stalls floor foyer, level -1 hair cells to singing cortices. Discover what we α, β, γ, δ, θ, μ can learn about the brain, just by listening to it. (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Theta, Mu) Free, drop in James Bulley and Daniel Jones α, β, γ, δ, θ, μ is a musical composition that Sat and Sun 11am–6pm explores the rhythms and properties of neural Fountain Room, Level G activity, following the same patterns observed Knit a Neuron in physical brainwaves. Just as your thoughts and feelings emerge from the collective effects British Society for Immunology of countless electrical impulses in your brain, Pick up your needles and hooks and knit this composition emerges from countless a neuron as we chat about the brain. musical elements – each one played by a Barbican Weekender Barbican visitor to the piece on their smartphone. Free, drop in Weekender Barbican For further details on how to log on and play your brainwave, visit barbican.org.uk/wonder 3 Free, drop in 4 Sat 2.15pm and Sun 1.30pm Sat 3.45pm and Sun 3.15pm Sat and Sun 11am–6pm Freestage, level G Freestage, level G Curve Exit, level G Naked Neuroscience I’m a neuroscientist get Ping Pong Plus Wonder Naked Scientists me out of here – LIVE! Venice as a Dolphin Cambridge University’s Naked Scientists Are male and female brains different? Is the Table tennis as you’ve never seen (or heard) take you on an interactive journey through brain more like a sponge or a computer? it before. Every shot you play will come the workings of the nervous system. Volunteer Do we really only use ten percent of our back to haunt you as you do battle, not brain? Join comedian, songstress and science if you want to find out how to read your just against your opponent, but against #wonderseason brainwaves, activate your muscles electrically, presenter Helen Arney, who puts five brain the limitations of your own perception. learn how to fool your senses and more. scientists on the spot with your questions as they compete on stage for your vote to win ’I’m Free, drop in Free, drop in a neuroscientist get me out of here’ – LIVE! Free, drop in Sat and Sun 12 noon–2pm Sat and Sun 11am–6pm, and 3pm–5pm Fountain Room, level G Ground floor foyers, level G Build-a-Brain Sat 1.45pm and 3.15pm, Sun 1pm and 2.30pm Navigate your Neuron Dr Lizzie Burns Ground Floor Foyer, level G MzTek Dr Lizzie Burns Scientist-turned-artist guides Brain Flash Use soft-circuit electronics to make a wearable, you through different parts of the brain to Join Dr Peter Lovatt and his team of interactive neuron glove with MzTek - using help you make a work of art. At the end of the dancers to learn the 'Brain Flash’: our brain- electricity to send the signal from a touch session, you can take your brain home with you. inspired flash mob. Learn a few simple moves sensor on the finger, through lights all the Free, drop in and become part of a human brain wave. way up the arm to a buzzer in the elbow. You can learn the dance on the day or in Free, sign up on the day advance at barbican.org.uk/wonder Free, drop in © Dr Kay Kelly/Dr Lizzie Burns Sat 12.15pm and Sun 12 noon, Freestage, level G, Brains Showoff The people who bring you Science Showoff bring you a chaotic half-hour of brain-related comedy, music, sketches, demonstrations Barbican Weekender Barbican and talks.