Tempting Fate!

We are a jeweller, a scientist and a physician based at the University of Dundee who are interested in exploring through contemporary jewellery superstitious beliefs about disease. At the heart of the project is the question - Would you wear a piece of jewellery inspired by a cancer cell? Or would this be tempting fate?

Cell biology encompasses one of the most visually striking areas of scientific research and has long been a source of inspiration for artists and designers. However, our anecdotal experience indicates that images and objects which represent human disease (eg. cancer) are perceived as simultaneously beguiling and sinister, and are often attributed with a malignant energy. This suggests that the tension between the dominant scientific world view and superstitious cultural beliefs remains as strong as when the seventeenth century Scottish philosopher David Hume proposed that it was unreasonable to believe testimonies of alleged miraculous events.

We aim to use this blog to present our work at it progresses and explore the relationship between objects, superstition and disease with you. We hope that you will engage with us on these issues.