• Swindon & Wiltshire Culture
• Wednesday November 1 2023
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Medical simulator firm Limbs & Things gives a helping hand to unusual art show

Medical simulator firm Limbs & Things has given a helping hand to an unusual art show launching tomorrow (Thursday).

RE:COLLECTION, by Bristol-based artist and illustrator Ellie Shipman, brings together art and science in a unique project created during a residency at the Limbs & Things factory in St Philips, Bristol.

Ellie created artwork from Limbs & Things birthing simulator products designed to train nurses and doctors for procedures such as C-sections.

The exhibition, says the artist, will give people will have the opportunity to explore the complexities of birth – from the traumas to the triumphs.

Ellie started creating the project whilst on a six-week residency at Limbs & Things, which came about after spotting the factory on her way home one day and seeing through the window different body parts being made from silicone.

“Through this residency I began to explore the tensions between the domestic and medical birth experiences. I am very interested in this space between – the fine lines between recommendations, expectations and advice around birth experiences from all shades of the spectrum,” said Ellie.

Artist and illustrator Ellie Shipman at work

“I hope these works speak to this in some form. These sculptural and collage pieces bring together symbols of domesticity and hidden women’s labour with the medical processes and procedures of birth in a medical setting. Hopefully this will prompt conversation on the complexities and dualities within the birth experience.

“My interests with Limbs & Things are aligned on many levels. My fascination in the crossover of arts and science, research and human experience, handmade craft and human-centred design were all part of the ethos of Limbs & Things – a company making medical simulator models for training clinicians.”

Nick Gerolemou, head of product management, Limbs & Things says: “It’s been wonderful to have Ellie, a locally-based artist, work alongside us, and see off-cuts and old products come to life in a brand new way that melds together both creativity and function. We hope people will enjoy exploring the intricate, and at times challenging, topic of birth through Ellie’s artworks.”

The exhibition takes place daily between 10am and 4pm from Friday, November 3 to Sunday, November 11 at St Anne’s House, St Anne’s Rd, Brislington, Bristol, with a launch event on Thursday evening. The artist will also be giving weekend and lunchtime talks. Details are available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/recollection-regathering-social-practice-tickets-707682165407