Lorraine Anderson Paul Andrews Paul Harrison David Mach John McGhee Elaine Shemilt When artists and scientists collaborate ideas explode, predictions implode and unexpected synergies emerge. The Inspiration and Discovery 2006 exhibition unveils to the public, for the fi rst time, international artist and sculptor David Mach’s exuberant embodiment of 21st century monumental art and life sciences – a nine foot model of an envisaged “bioColossus” nonchalantly straddling the area between the arts and sciences on the University of Dundee campus. The work, and associated collages, is Mach’s response to a period as Visiting Professor of Inspiration and Discovery at the University, mixing with scientists and artists, students and staff, at a time when the University has also been evolving its campus redevelopment plan. Concept plans for a purpose-built Inspiration Studio, to be constructed by the University’s architecture students, and to house future art /science initiatives will also be revealed. Unexpected synergies are well demonstrated in this exhibition – where potato pathogens Bio Colossus • David Mach yield the pattern of their secrets, computer games technology brings physiological processes to life for patients, designs inspired by pollen structures unexpectedly soothe asthmatics and the exquisite relationship between form and function is explored. The Inspiration and Discovery Exhibition 2006 marks the conclusion of the Inspiration and Discovery programme, funded by the Wellcome Trust, to catalyse collaborations between artists and scientists in the wider communication of science.The University of Dundee is uniquely well placed to lead art-meets-science activity, with its combination Cell Division • Paul Andrews of world class life sciences and one of the UK’s leading art schools. Exhibitors include: • David Mach FRA – international artist and sculptor and the University of Dundee’s Visiting Professor of Inspiration and Discovery • Professor Elaine Shemilt FRSA, Chair of Fine Art Printmaking • Paul Harrison, research assistant VRC • John McGhee whose research explores 3D visualisation techniques to enhance medical scan data • Dr Paul Andrews who is currently investigating chromosome segregation in human cancer cells • Lorraine Anderson who was Master of Design Student of the Year 2004 at Pollen • Lorraine Anderson Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design David Mach FRA David Mach is one of the UK’s leading contemporary artists. Born in Methil, Fife, “...an exuberant embodiment of 21st century monumental art and life sciences” David joined Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in 1974 where he experimented with many of the techniques and ideas which he has continued to develop. Biowoman is David Mach’s concept for a 90 foot tall woman leaning nonchalantly on After graduating he was awarded a place at the Royal College of Art in London, Duncan of Jordanstone College’s Crawford Building on the Perth Road in Dundee. emerging with a Masters in 1982. In 1988 he was shortlisted for the Turner Prize The steel framed structure is covered in a mosaic of lenticular tiles which shimmer and in 1998 was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Arts. and change as you view them from different angles, deriving their imagery from a range of disciplines across the university campus. The nine foot scale model – already Over the years he has made his mark internationally with a hectic output and a range fondly dubbed “Baby Bio” – on display in the VRC is leaning on a scale model of the of major art works including the Temple of Tyre in Edinburgh, the Sumo Wrestler, Crawford Building crafted by Lyle McCance at the University’s the Brick Train at Darlington, the Acropolis of magazines, the Big Heids off the M8, School of Architecture in collaboration with Mach. the UK’s Self Portrait - an epic collage, commissioned for the Millennium Dome - a representation of the first moonwalk in wire coat hangers and many more. A pair of “We want to mix the life sciences with art, with forensic sciences, with jewellery, design, Mach collages on a football theme currently feature centre space in Edinburgh’s new engineering and so on. It will involve everyone and encompass the whole university. Weston Link, joining the Royal Scottish Academy and the National Gallery of Scotland. As you move around the body you’ll see hundreds of different images such as a bit of skeleton, skin cells or blood vessels but it will still make up a single three dimensional being... Mach is well known for his bold, provocative and often startling statement, as well as I really want to build this Bio Colossus in Dundee” for the huge scale of his works of art. Multiple mass produced objects are standard raw – David Mach sculpture material for Mach and in the past he has drawn on an unlikely range including magazines, match heads, tyres, bricks, dolls, teddy bears and scrap cars. The source “We are looking forward to the unveiling of the Biowoman. This could be Dundee’s material for his ideas can be equally unexpected – his design for a bridge for example ‘Angel of the North’ – a massive, visible symbol of the revisioning of the City emerged from looking at a hair curler. as a hub for new ideas, and an emphatic statement of the University’s commitment to both the arts and science. The idea of a ‘BioColossus’ – a combination of 21st century Mach has enormous passion, energy and a refreshingly modest approach to his work. monumental art and life sciences – nonchalantly straddling both on the university As a teacher he is inspirational. As Visiting Professor of Inspiration and Discovery at the campus is going to cause controversy. But then new science and new art University of Dundee over the last 18 months he has become a focal point for a range always have taken risks and been provocative” of activities between artists and scientists. – Deputy Principal Professor Geoff Ward His Bio Colossus is one of a number of proposals he developed with the Dundee A range of Inspiration and Discovery material went on tour in January 2006 to campus in mind. Others include Singapore where it remains on show in the Biopolis – the Singapore Agency for • a massive camera obscura reflecting scientists’ interest in watching life in microscopy Science Technology and Research (A*STAR) campus for the Life Sciences. in all its forms and echoing the Outlook Towers developed by one of the University’s earliest and most famous professors Sir Patrick Geddes • a set of laser light wielding transformers capable of vertical wall climb • interactive scrabble murals • a gigantic open air multi purpose screen for the campus green Lorraine Anderson Paul Harrison Lorraine Anderson, Master of Design student of the year 2004 at Duncan of Jordanstone Paul Liam Harrison – works closely with life scientists to develop images celebrating the College of Art & Design. In 1999 Lorraine decided to return to full-time education as a exquisite relationship between form and function. His work has been widely exhibited mature student to study textile design. Lorraine has suffered for many years from allergy and is in regular demand for cover pages on science journals and at conferences. and asthma, spending many long spells in hospital as a result. As a mature student of He is currently artist in residence at the Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of design she focussed on the cause of her condition – pollen – and found in it inspiration. Genomics (CESAGen) and the Human Genome Organisation (HUGO). She used the cutting edge scientific facilities at the Wellcome Trust Biocentre to examine pollen grains under the microscope and, after extensive research with fellow sufferers This set of screen prints represents a range of Paul’s recent projects which explore on the impact of design and colour on state of mind and wellbeing, she developed the developments in gene and cell research. He is interested in how this new information resulting images and incorporated them into textile designs for hospital allergy wards is processed and visualised in both the specialist and public context. Rapid progress in – a unique application of art and science. the development of new knowledge and technology challenges the way we visualise our world and the implications of this are far reaching. Paul is interested in how we have During her four years of studying textile design, Lorraine won many competitions dealt with these problems historically and how we can apply this experience to new and awards. She graduated in 2003 with first class honours and went on to study visual criteria. for a Master of Design degree. Her work has featured in the media including the BBC. Pollen • Lorraine Anderson Cartografia • Paul Harrison Paul is a cross disciplinary artist with a background and prevailing interest in print, printmaking and publishing. His practice combines traditional methods and materials with new and developing technologies. He graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art with an honours degree in Fine Art, specialising in printmaking, (1994) and after a concentrated period of study in Barcelona (1995) from Winchester School of Art with a Masters degree in European Fine Art. Paul is currently based at the Visual Research Centre, Dundee Contemporary Arts, Since completing her degree University of Dundee (www.vrc.dundee.ac.uk) where he collaborates with artists Lorraine’s pollen images and researchers on the development and production of print projects including artists’ have been widely used and exhibited editioned books and print folios. at venues including www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~plharris The Lighthouse, Glasgow. Lorraine is seeking new commissions and can be contacted at +44(0)1382 866677 [email protected] Pollen • Lorraine Anderson Long Fall • Paul Harrison Genes • Paul Harrison John McGhee Paul Andrews Originally trained as an Industrial Designer at Grays school of Art, Aberdeen.