08/01/2014
Sheffield surgeon William Jackson practiced in the building currently known as Bank Street Arts during the 1830s. Contextual research reveals that the place which is now a hub for creative activity was once a site for surgical procedures devoid of anaesthesia or antisepsis. A duty to preserve life outweighed the duty to relieve pain or suffering. One can only imagine the traumatic experiences of patients who underwent surgery at this time.
Using a materials led approach, artist Sylvia Causer investigates how common materials such as silk and ordinary sewing needles became fundamental apparatus for the Victorian surgeon.
