Exhibition
CAPSID, John Walter
13 Jan 2023 – 10 Apr 2023
Regular hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- 11:00 – 16:00
- Thursday
- 11:00 – 16:00
- Friday
- 11:00 – 16:00
- Saturday
- 11:00 – 16:00
- Sunday
- 11:00 – 16:00
Free admission
Address
- The Vulcan Building
- Gunwharf Quays
- Portsmouth
England - PO1 3BF
- United Kingdom
Travel Information
- Aspex is a 10-minute walk from the Hard Interchange, which provides access from all parts of the city, as well as from London (Victoria) via coach.
- Aspex is a 10-minute walk from Portsmouth Harbour train station, providing access on lines via London (Waterloo), Southampton, Brighton and Cardiff.
Aspex are pleased to present CAPSID, an Arts Council Collection, large scale multi media installation, by the artist John Walter.
About
CAPSID is the result of a collaboration between Walter and molecular virologist Professor Greg Towers of University College London. The work brings to light the underrepresented debate around viruses such as HIV, uncovering new scientific knowledge about viral capsids and sharing it with the wider public.
Capsids are protein shells contained within viruses that help protect and deliver viruses to host cells during infection. Akin to the cell’s role, CAPSID celebrates Walter’s maximalist approach to expose ecosystems and issues that are often overlooked in society. Using its cellular structure as a point of inspiration, the exhibition features drawings, paintings, prints, sculptures, costume and film to illustrate virology’s omnipresence in human life.
Now more than ever, we can all relate to viruses and their impact. The exhibition brings vibrant colour, spatial design, maximalism and collage to catalyse discussions at the intersection of science, art and society. Visitors are encouraged to reconsider the historical representation of HIV and other viruses and to think about them as an analogy for how culture is transmitted influenced by Richard Dawkins’ definition of the meme.
Aspex Portsmouth is thrilled to be collaborating with Arts Council Collection on Borrow Big! to bring Comment end CAPSID to the consciousness of the local community in Portsmouth. In a post-pandemic world, CAPSID offers a playful and insightful investigation of the role that viruses have on our lives.
CAPSID was co-commissioned by Southwark Park Galleries and HOME Manchester in 2018, supported by a Large Arts Award from Wellcome and funding from Arts Council England, and project managed by SMART.