Ayurvedic Man exhibition at the Wellcome Collection

Ayurvedic Man is a new exhibition at the Wellcome Collection which opened this month. The name of the exhibition refers to a Nepali painting from the 18th century which depicts the organs and vessels of a male body.

Ayurvedic Man Exhibition
Ayurvedic Man Exhibition

What is Ayurveda?

Rooted in South Asia Ayurveda refers to the range of medical practices over 1000s of years. It is still widely practised in the Indian sub continent today. Bringing together the global market of Wellness and bio-medicine where it has been transformed. The name derives from the Hindu god of Ayurveda, whom incarnated himself as a king of Varanasi and taught medicine to a group of physicians, including Sushruta. Therapies are typically based on complex herbal compounds, minerals and metal substances. Although laboratory experiments suggest it is possible that some substances used in Ayurveda might be developed into effective treatments, there is no evidence that any are effective as currently practised.

Ayurvedic Man Exhibition

The Exhibition

The exhibition showcases a range of material, including Sanskrit, Persian and Tibetan manuscripts, vibrant gouache paintings, erotic manuals and animal-shaped surgical tools from the Wellcome collection, the exhibition includes a new commission by artist Ranjit Kandalgaonkar reimagining the Bombay plague epidemic of 1896 and a new film by Nilanjan Bhattacharya centred around two contemporary medicinal practitioners from India.

There are lots of interactive displays and books to read about Indian medicine.

Ayurvedic Man Exhibition
Ayurvedic Man Books

Below are lots more of my photographs of the exhibition taken during the opening weekend with lots more on Flickr. Thanks for reading, leave a comment below or take a look at the links.

Ayurvedic Man Exhibition
Interactive part of the exhibition
Ayurvedic Man Exhibition
Interactive part of the exhibition
Ayurvedic Man Exhibition
Interactive part of the exhibition
Ayurvedic Man Exhibition
Surgical instruments used in the 17th century
Ayurvedic Man Exhibition
Reading area
Ayurvedic Man Exhibition
Natural products used in treatments

When / Where is it on?

The exhibition is on display until 8th April 2018 in the Wellcome Collection which is opposite Euston station in London. Also visit the other exhibitions on the other levels plus the Library room at the top. It is all free to enter.

Links

Flickr – httpss://www.flickr.com/photos/alalchan/albums/72157666562460869
Instagram – httpss://www.instagram.com/alalchan/
Wellcome Collection –  httpss://wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/WduTricAAN7Mt8yY

Recommended

100 Years of Film: From Sons of the Sea to a Guinness World Record

From stormtroopers to Bridgerton gowns, the Old Royal Naval College became a real-life movie set as fans and filmmakers celebrated 100 years of British cinema with Elstree Studios. I captured the record-breaking day where 874 people made film history — and revisited a century of stories shot on these iconic grounds.

October Events 2025

London / Watford comes alive in October. The city’s trees explode into fiery shades after this year’s hot summer, promising one of the most striking autumns in years. But it’s not just nature stealing the show — Frieze Masters dominates the art world, Halloween unleashes a wave of hauntingly good events, and the Zombie Walk rises again after a five-year slumber.

September Events 2025

Hello September!
As autumn begins and the evenings draw in, London is set to host an impressive calendar of cultural events.
For those with a creative eye, highlights include London Fashion Week, the London Design Festival, and Open House London—each offering unique opportunities to experience the city’s style, innovation, and architecture.

Advertising