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From Atoms to Organisms
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An exhibit which features the artwork and perspectives of both artists and scientists, imagining what we cannot see and exploring what we can about our biological world.
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Ribosome Unit from "Waltz of the Polypeptides" by Mara Haseltine.
The pace at which scientific discovery has been accelerating, flooding our media and our consciousness with new concepts and imagery, is breathtaking. To form our own opinions of the research taking place, we must find ways to take in the basic concepts behind these new discoveries. The brief descriptions in a newspaper article, often written by someone with barely enough time to grasp the concepts themselves, leave us with partial truths and an incomplete picture. The rich panoply of human endeavor and achievement embodied in science and human knowledge often goes unreported, while the most controversial and sensationalist aspects are overemphasized.
In contrast, many artists are paying close attention to the beautiful imagery and astonishing concepts and implications of life science research. Through their eyes, much can be observed that has been missed in the mainstream media. By also looking at the sculptures and imagery of the scientists themselves, with explanations in their own words, we have the opportunity to form our own conclusions without filters from the media or interpretations by others.
Eugene Tsui, Interior of a building in China inspired by the structural and spatial efficiency of cellular structures in nature such as coccolinths, radiolarian and diatoms.
DanielSauter with Andrew E. Pelling, imagery and installation. Exploring the interface between light, scale and colour at a nano scale, a series of images captured with the optical microsocpe and the Atomic Force Microscope.
By showing these two groups side by side, a rich picture of what makes us alive can be seen. The boundaries and similarities between art and science can be explored - the common goals of the two groups made more apparent. From the atomic and microscopic, to how we think and experience our world, the Life Illuminated exhibit presents a unique perspective on some of the most important fields of discovery of the 21st century.
Visions through a microscope and the concepts of life science are already impacting the art world, and will continue to be a deep well of inspiration. Understanding the new symbols of science will be key for reading a newspaper, going to an art museum, voting, and many other aspects of our daily lives from now on.
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