Humans have always been obsessed with purity. We associate poor health with environmental and spiritual pollution, while purity of body, mind and behaviour has been promoted as a route to good health and spirituality. This gallery shows how some cultures and communities have used air, water, pain and sexual restraint in their pursuit of purity.
In pursuit of purity
Words by Solomon Szekir-Papasavva
- In pictures
About the author
Solomon Szekir-Papasavva
Sol is the Engagement Officer for the Art & Health project at Wellcome Collection. The project involves cataloguing and promoting the use of selected art and archive collections in the Library.