Shelley Wilson and Prof. Arthur Crisp were one of six winning partnerships of the Wellcome Trust Sci-Art ‘97 Competition. The project ‘Female Puberty and a search for an identity’ gave a fine art interpretation of the complex psychological dilemmas of anorexia nervosa. The project was inspired by Arthur Crisp’s research and Shelley’s close contact over the course of a year with a group of six chronic anorexics in treatment at Atkinson Morley Hospital, Wimbledon.

The main installation embodies three sculptures and represents a 17 year-old female of average height contemplating the two diverging paths before her. She has already lost 8lbs in weight by dieting. With this mechanism in place and with her periods already scanty, the options confronting her are ‘recovery’ to growth and maturity or else ‘regression’ to biological childhood and anorexia nervosa. Once in the grip of the anorexia nervosa life becomes safer but physical, social and psychological development are aborted. The condition is biologically exhausting, chronicity is characteristic and early death can ensue.

The second installation addresses the subject of abuse associated with anorexia nervosa through dismembered figures in vulnerable postures with genitalia exposed (not shown). The final work deals with the body shapes and sizes of a class of twenty-five 17 year-old London schoolgirls – Titled Class 11W 1998.