CAG on museums: Art, science and an exhibition on Maori Modernism in NZ

The arts and sciences have long been paired together in the museum and share quite similar qualities of promoting distinctive and thoughtful ideas. Artists have been inspired by science and technology, and scientific design has taken point from artistic innovation as well. The sciences and arts have their own significances and are both part of the legacy of humankind.

Three Vessels Ralph Hotere oil on card, c. 1958, Whangarei private collection

There seems to be a trend and an increase in science and art collaborations in the museum world. The recent British Science Festival taking place in Newcastle is just one event/ display that exemplifies this trend (Link to previous post). The links between art, conservation and preservation sciences have always been understood as given behind-the-scenes work, but now the interest in displaying the science behind art has picked up pace.

On 21 September 2013 the launch of the Media Space area displaying photography and art at the Science Museum London supplies another significant link and correlation between science and art. At the Science Museum, Vivienne Westwood gave a speech where she was quoted as saying, ‘there are basically two types of people in the world and the thing about great artists and great scientists is that they have great imagination – they can see the world differently’.

Presence part of Universal Everything & You installation at Science Museum
21 Sept 2013 to 7 Feb 2014. This digital artwork explores anthropomorphism
and uses technologies such as 3D printing

Coming soon to the Whangarei Art Museum in New Zealand, the exhibition ‘Salon to Marae: First glimmerings of a Maori Modernism’ will display art of the late Selwyn Wilson and highlight the scientific conservation that has occurred to bring these dilapidated works back to a high standard of display. Selwyn Wilson was one of the first Maoris to graduate from Elam School of Fine Arts. His 14 paintings and drawings were in an extremely poor state and will be shown for the first time since 1951. The exhibition will also display paintings by Ralph Hotere, Dame Katerina Mataira, Muru Walters, and Arnold Manaaki Wilson as artists considered early Maori Modernists. The exhibition will also showcase the integral relationship between science and the arts that allowed these Selwyn Wilson paintings come back to life. ‘Salon to Marae’ opens November 11 at the Whangarei Art Museum.

Girl with a Grapefruit Selwyn Wilson oil on board c. 1949, Private collection

CAG on museums: The British Science Festival 7-12 September 2013

Photo by David Scharf ‘Human Lymphocyte’

The British Science Festival is taking place in Newcastle this year and is a celebration of science, engineering and technology. The festival travels to different UK cities every year and offers an array of activities to get the public involved and interested in science. There are so many things going on for the festival, but so far I’ve been concentrating on some of the more artistic displays of art, technology, and science.

Jennifer Allinson giving an artist talk in the Hatton Gallery

I attended the artist talk and opening of Jennifer Allinson’s body armour sculpture show. During her talk she explained how she created her fragile armour pieces through an mix of sewing skills, engineering to create the porcelain pieces and some of their supports, and the manipulation of materials, which is key to sculpting.

Arm bands

Corset/bodice

There was also a piece in the Hatton Gallery foyer called winter flowers, which used a mix of metal, acrylic, silk, and real tree branches.

'Winter Flowers' by Jenny Allinson

There is also the ‘International Images for Science 2013’ exhibition based on a partnership of the Royal Photographic Society and Science and Technology Facilities Council of 100 images from scientists, researchers, and others of science themed explorations, which is on at the Great North Museum: Hancock.

Photo by Robert Hurt ‘Massive star making waves’

Photo David Doubliet ‘World of Penguins, Antarctic Peninsula’

There are some slightly upsetting images for the over-sensitive public such as myself of some human maladies, and the inside of human that made me feel a bit icky, but overall some really interesting photos.

Photo by Paul Whitten ‘Retinal Haemorrhage’

I also went to a display about how barnacles reproduce and stick to surfaces in the sea, watched them feed on prawns, and looked at the kind of paint that is being used to paint ships today to keep barnacles off ship surfaces.

Live sea barnacles

On September 11, I plan on going to a lecture in the Newcastle University Fine Art Lecture Theatre on the ‘Tipping points in nature and society’. Lots happening all around this week.