Death Equals All Things

To celebrate the centenary of the acquisition of the botanical collections of Dr Philip Brookes Mason and Thomas Greenlees, Bolton Museum and Archive Service commissioned artist Rebecca Chesney to create a new artwork in response to these fascinating collections.

Rebecca spent 20 days researching the collection and creating a new installation piece for this show, working closely throughout with Patricia Francis, Curator of Botany, and spending time behind the scenes in the museum stores.

Looking through the collection, Rebecca became fascinated by the potential power plants contain, the important place they have in our history and the role they may yet have in the future.

For example, Deadly Nightshade was famously used by Dr Crippen to commit murder; whilst at the same time was a common prevention for sea sickness.

Focusing on 6 specimens - Deadly Nightshade, Death Cap, Foxglove, Hemlock, Monkshood and Yew - Rebecca started growing her own plants and created a laboratory in which she carried out her own experiments.  

The installation Rebecca has created is a direct result of this experimentation.  By creating dark and light spaces in the gallery, Rebecca explores the different directions research can take.  The dark space is filled with negative aspects such as poisons; while the lighter reflects areas of understanding and remedies.

It is exhibited alongside a selection of rarely seen samples from the Museum's botany collection that have inspired Rebecca and a number of objects from Bolton Museum's social history collection also chosen by the artist.

To complement the exhibition, there is also an artist’s workshop taking place at 7 Acres Country Park.  Led by Rebecca, this will give local residents the chance to work with a professional artist and develop new arts skills whilst researching and documenting the natural history of the area.  The results of these workshops will be on display in the gallery.

Death Equals all Things - OMNIA MORS AEQUAT has been funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.