'Why people take drugs' explored in art show

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

'Why do we take drugs' has become the theme of a new art exhibition at a museum for the next six months.

The show is set to explore how people consume narcotics across the world at the Sainsbury Centre, in Norfolk, from Saturday to 27 April, 2025.

From alcohol and caffeine to ayahuasca and heroin, the exhibition will delve into drug cultures around the globe and highlight the impact it can have on society.

Jago Cooper, director for visual art at the centre, said: "I think museums need to help people answer the most important questions in our society and taking drugs is a fundamental one."

Several artists have taken part in the art show 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 take visitors over the highs and lows of that reality and their impact in so many people’s lives around the globe."

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

They made a mural which created a "visual representation" of their place in the world.

The exhibition also explored the impact of ayahuasca - a South American psychoactive beverage - within Western Amazonian society.

The ritual consumption of ayahuasca is linked to artistic production of ceramics, textiles, sculpture, painting and photography, he said.

Chris Dyer created a piece of artwork called Bullish

"Museums just need to be interesting to anyone, you don't have to like art to go to an art museum," Prof Cooper continued.

"We are taking six months to explore that question 'why do we take drugs' from completely different cultural perspectives and understand it.

"It is really interesting to think about how different countries use drugs in completely different ways. Drugs have always been part of human culture."

Growing up, Prof Cooper said he was always told to say no to drugs, but he added: "It just puts it in a box when you don't talk about it and you don't know about it and you don't understand."