25 years of asking what if

From Womb to Worm

For awe-filled babes of earth

much like you and I,

weaning is impossible.

Though we are to die, our 

roots will ever-grow:

they’ll touch, and twist, and

slip, and sew ideas

that t h r e a d b a r e bits

of synapses will ache to know

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From womb to worm was inspired by the very essence of We The Curious: exploration, discovery, and the human thirst for knowledge. We The Curious shares this message with Bristol and beyond, to people of all ages… and perhaps some animals too.

Bird Flight

Sparrow legs

step, tentative

Hold paper to

the light

Touch fleecy sock

to laminate

Fling sticky hands

to plastic

Take birth in their stride

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Bird flight was inspired by the many young children who had their formative exploratory experiences at We The Curious’ Toddler Takeovers.

Sonogram

Weekly visits

to the womb.

pitter patter

building blocks

preparations

baby socks

soon we will be four

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Sonogram features We The Curious’ famous womb room, remembered and beloved by many who shared their memories with us. We can imagine soon-to-be parents exploring the exhibit, getting the chance to see how their baby is developing inside their own womb - and even telling their children that they are going to be big-sibs!

Lineage

Threw my cap into the harbour

(all things trickle down)

Watched your wonder

charge the water

(all things trickle down)

Amberglow glazing your father

(all things trickle down)

New blood runs & love becomes

All things trickle down.
 

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Lineage is a special piece inspired by Bernard Cripps, a trustee of the Exploratory during the development of Millennium Square. Bernard’s family have gone on to stay impressively entwined with We The Curious throughout its 25 years; Geoff Gollop, Bernard’s son-in-law, is still a trustee of We The Curious today! Geoff and his wife, Bernice, fondly remember their children being volunteered for the Millennium Square fountain switch on; their daughter playing with the water exhibits as a child; and, many moons later, getting married in the planetarium! Now, Geoff and Bernice enjoy taking their Granddaughter to explore We The Curious, continuing the legacy that Bernard helped to build.

Astronauts

Amongst such splendour

(supernovas,

shooting stars

et cetera)

I could see only you, 

doused in space-light,

hurtling 

gently

into my arms

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Astronauts was inspired by the many couples who get married at We The Curious’ planetarium - and the people who met their future partners there too! From proposals in the Rainbow Constellation, to everlasting meet-cutes in the Planetarium, the childlike wonder of We The Curious has fostered love for 25 years.

Tear-stained

Let swathes of gone-sound

heal your bare-skin brick; 

rapt hands wash over sodden

bones, trace lifetimes,

oil-slick, down your spine;

carve wrinkles into worn

sandstone.

You have our mercy; rest.

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Tear-stained talks to the We The Curious venue during its periods of rest, both in the lockdown and after it suffered significant water damage in a 2022 fire. The building was originally a railway goods shed, and then a car park, so we can imagine that it found the silence to be strange!

School Trip

Looking at my work up here

is really pretty cool. My hot

air b’loon got sent to space

and that’s not even all!

I got to hear a beating heart

up right close in the flesh

When i get home

I’ll tell my mum 

I’m now a scientist!

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School Trip honours the rite-of-passage day out to We The Curious that many now-adults in the South West look back on with warmth. Some professional scientists really did get their first experiences at ‘@Bristol’ during the 00s and 10s.

Memory Discarnate

Hush.

Listen close, or 

you might miss the 

whisper of

humans

on 

      the

wind

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Memory Discarnate asks you to consider the fragility of collective memory. Projects such as this one, celebrating We The Curious’ 25th Birthday, make tangible our communal spirit and the history of our city.