Art and Science / Melanie King / Conrad Shawcross

It's that time of year when all the arts graduates put on their final year show, exhibiting some of their best work. These shows are often a great way to spend an evening as they are free entry and you get to see up and coming artists' work at the same time.

I wanted to post about Melanie K, I have followed her progress through her blog as a student at Leeds College of Art and she graduates soon, with a place at the prestigious St Martins school of art to study the intriguingly titled MA in Art and Science. As her work progressed it became more and more inspired by science and as a result she started a blog called Art Catalyst which I would recommend checking out for regular posts on inspiring inter-related work.

Bubble (2011)
Enlarged Photogram Print, Perspex Frame

Melanie King (Image Source)

The work of Melanie and her coursemates will be on display in their show Tacit Knowledge as part of the Free Range Art and Design Show in The Old Truman Brewery off Brick Lane between 14th-18th July, that's this Thursday coming, details of opening hours can be found here. Free Range is a showcase of work by Art and Design graduates across the country. I have attended a few events in this space and its a great location, I'd highly recommend dropping in if you are in the area while the exhibition is running.

The link between Art and Science in general is something I've been interested since learning about the Science Museum's arts projects. Artists interpretations of science can make the subject seem more accessible and enjoyable, and vice versa really. I recommend a visit to the Science Museum to check out their long term installation Listening Post

I used to find it very calming sitting there for ten minutes or so, it is a live feed of the internet presented in a really interesting way, obviously the unpredictable nature of it can incite all sorts of feelings and it can be a bit rude, just to warn you.

A list of current and future projects at the museum can be found here... recently an series of works entitled 'Protomodel' were put on display in the Mathematics gallery, by the museum's centenary artist in residence Conrad Shawcross.

(Image Source)

For more pictures of the installations (the above is one of five in the gallery) check out the Science Museum website here. The works are a response to the mathematical instruments on display in that gallery, which are quite beautiful, see below for a glimpse in one of the cases I found on the lifestyleetc blog.

(Image Source)

The Science Museum says "Protomodel opens up a playful, questioning dialogue exploring how model-making, natural processes, cultural practices and historical circumstances all play their part in mathematical thinking."  So yeah, one to check out this summer, remember the Science Museum is free entry!

I will leave you with Circularity by Melanie, I love the striking nature of the photogram (cameraless photography) effect, and how it can produce images that transform into something else completely. For more detail on photograms, click here. It'll be interesting to see how Melanie's work develops while she is at St Martins! If London is a bit far away for you, she is doing a residency at the rather lovely Nexus Art Cafe in Manchester. I recommend their smoothies and jacket potatoes and the lovely creative space in which you can relax, surrounded by absorbing exhibitions.

Circularity (2011)

Photogram

Melanie King (Image Source)