SLEEPING BEAUTIES: WHY GOOD IDEAS GO DORMANT (HB)

We love to believe that greatness is always recognised, innovation always seized upon and rewarded. Yet so many of the people lauded as among the world's great creators initially got little reward for their ideas. It was only later, often much later, that their work made a lasting impact. Dark matter, continental drift, solar panels, the steam engine, Brueghel, Vermeer, Melville - all 'sleeping beauties'. Ranging across centuries and the full scope of human endeavour, artist and musician David Byrne explores these breakthroughs and celebrates the courage to try new things.