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Art exhibition in Norfolk explores the question ‘why do we take drugs?’

Sainsbury Centre A glass with a face on it Sainsbury's Centre

This vessel was created by an unknown artist from Shipibo-Konibo, Peru.

“Why do we take drugs?” is the theme of a new art exhibition in a museum for the next six months.

The show is scheduled to run from Saturday to April 27, 2025 at the Sainsbury Centre in Norfolk, and will explore how people around the world use narcotics.

From alcohol and caffeine to ayahuasca and heroin, the exhibition examines drug culture around the world and shows the impact it can have on society.

Jago Cooper, director of visual arts at the centre, said: “I think museums need to help people answer the most important questions facing our society, and drug use is a fundamental question.”

Sainsbury Centre: Multi-coloured painting of people all fused together. Sainsbury's Centre

Several artists participated in the art exhibition, including Robert Venosa, who created Ayahausca Dream

Prof Cooper, who teaches art and archaeology at the University of East Anglia (UEA), added: “These incredible exhibitions from around the world show visitors the highs and lows of this reality and the impact it has on the lives of so many people around the globe.”

Prof Cooper said indigenous people from the heart of the Amazon had travelled to create artwork for the exhibition.

They created a mural that created a “visual representation” of their place in the world.

The exhibition also examined the impact of ayahuasca – a psychoactive drink from South America – on society in the western Amazon region.

The ritual consumption of ayahuasca is linked to the artistic production of ceramics, textiles, sculptures, paintings and photography, he said.

Sainsbury Centre A colourful work of artSainsbury's Centre

Chris Dyer created a work of art called Bullish

“Museums simply have to be interesting for everyone, you don’t have to like art to go to an art museum,” Prof. Cooper continued.

“We are taking six months to examine and understand the question 'Why do we take drugs?' from completely different cultural perspectives.

“It's really interesting to think about how drugs are used in completely different ways in different countries. Drugs have always been part of human culture.”

Professor Cooper said he was always told to say 'no' to drugs growing up, but added: 'If you don't talk about it, if you don't know about it and if you don't understand it, you get pigeonholed.'

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