Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic – free exhibition at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

This free exhibition at the Wellcome Collection in central London offers fascinating insights into the shadowy world of Victorian spirit mediums, modern magic and psychology.

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Bringing together the worlds of psychology and entertainment “in a search for the truth about deception,” the show asks what magic and conjuring can tell us about the human mind:

Explore how our biases affect our perception and whether our senses can be hacked. Discover spirit photography, magic props and psychology experiments to see how magic works on – and in – the mind of the spectator.

Artefacts on display from the world of magic include the head of the gorilla costume worn by Derren Brown, Harry Houdini’s ‘Bell Box’, Tommy Cooper’s fez, and Paul Daniels’s sawing-in-half box.

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Here’s some photos from my recent visit…

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Tommy Copper’s fez!

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic at the Wellcome Collection, London

Exhibition details

Wellcome Collection
183 Euston Road, NW1 2BE
Getting there
Tel: +44 (0)20 7611 2222
Email: info@wellcomecollection.org

Free admission
Galleries open Tuesday – Sunday
Opening times

Exhibition runs until 15 September 2019
wellcomecollection.org

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