An anatomy of an exhibition: curating Kill or Cure 2022

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It takes a village to produce an exhibition. The State Library's current exhibition, Kill or Cure? A Taste of Medicine features a large number of rare printed items and objects which trace western medical history from the 15th - 19th centuries. Our challenge was determining how to share these texts with a 21st-century audience in a creative, innovative way.

In this talk, both curator, Elise Edmonds, and conservator, Helen Casey, will share insights into the work done behind the scenes to get this exhibition open to the public.

Elise Edmonds is a senior curator at the State Library of NSW. Her most recent exhibition, Kill or Cure? A taste of Medicine looks at some of the powerful and enduring ideas from western medicine through the Library's rare printed collections. In 2019 she curated Dead Central - an immersive, audio experience, that told the story of the Devonshire Street Cemetery, where Central Station now stands.

Helen Casey is a senior conservator at the State Library of New South Wales. Helen is responsible for managing the care and preparation of collection items going on display as part of the Library's exhibitions and outgoing loans programmes. Helen has worked in exhibitions conservation for over 10 years and has a materials specialisation in painting conservation.