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A dialogue between art and science

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How art and science connect with and inspire each other is the theme of the new exhibition on campus, “STEAM”, which stands for “Science-Technology-Engineering-Art-Math”. The exhibition showcases the works of nine students and recent graduates of the Academy of Visual Arts (AVA), who have used a range of different mediums to create artworks that are related to scientific images, ideas, and the process of experimentation.

 

The exhibition invites visitors to explore the relationship between art and science, and gain a deeper understanding of how creativity can bridge the two worlds. The event also features over 50 new titles on Art & Science books in the University’s library collection, and a series of quotes from famous artists and scientists on the profound connections between the two disciplines.

 

Michael

Dr Michael Whittle curated an exhibition to showcase a collection of works by AVA students and graduates who were interested in exploring art in relation to scientific images, ideas, and the process of experimentation.

 

Dr Michael Whittle, Research Assistant Professor of AVA, curated the exhibition. “The collection brings together artworks created in a variety of mediums, including sculptures, paintings, kinetic and digital works. The featured works explore art and science from very different perspectives,” he says.

 

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‘Time flies, people leave’ by Venus Chau

 

Venus Chau created a sound installation using wires to depict the network of arteries and veins while preserving the memories of her loved ones. “Some of the closest people in my life have left Hong Kong over the past few years, and this presents a great change. The speakers of the installation play the sound of their heartbeats which were recorded when we talked about our childhood memories. This speaks of the close and deep relationship that can only be expressed beyond words,” she says.

 

Andy Ho

‘Cell’ by Andy Ho

 

In a series of experimental concrete sculptures, Andy Ho explored the idea of ‘Body’ and the biochemical process of metabolism. He says: “The concrete plugs represent connectivity, and each plug can be seen as a building, a human body, or a cell. When you look at the networks of cities and buildings, they are not unlike our biological metabolic systems. The body, in this interpretation, is a system of connection.”

 

Angela Ng

‘Therapy’, Angela Ng

 

"I wanted to visualise the idea that human emotions are a result of particles that exist in our brains," says Angela Ng, whose sculpture references anatomy, biochemistry, and neurobiology. Made from carefully molded sections of ceramics to resemble the human brain, the sculpture also features steel shapes which represent neurotransmitters. "By laying out the brain in the open, people can examine their feelings in a detached way."

In a series of experimental works titled ‘Verse – I’, ‘Reverse – I’ and ‘Reverse – II’, Myron Lai reversed the traditional roles of clay and glaze.

In a series of experimental works titled ‘Verse – I’, ‘Reverse – I’ and ‘Reverse – II’, Myron Lai reversed the traditional roles of clay and glaze.

In ‘Perfect – Fit’, Vidia Lam created different mixtures of gelatin form to give the impression of fatty organic bubbles.

In ‘Perfect – Fit’, Vidia Lam created different mixtures of gelatin form to give the impression of fatty organic bubbles.

Shawn Tang explored the idea of time and space in ‘Inertia, (The pulse of your dying hearts equals mine)’.

Shawn Tang explored the idea of time and space in ‘Inertia, (The pulse of your dying hearts equals mine)’.

In the oil painting ‘The space beyond our reach (0.001 cm to 0.000000000000000000000000000000001 cm)’, Yetta Chung referenced the scales and dimensions of cells.

In the oil painting ‘The space beyond our reach (0.001 cm to 0.000000000000000000000000000000001 cm)’, Yetta Chung referenced the scales and dimensions of cells.

Hilary Kan developed the ceramic work ‘M les’, which resembles the colour of heavily pigmented melanocyte cells found in moles on the surface of the skin.

Hilary Kan developed the ceramic work ‘M les’, which resembles the colour of heavily pigmented melanocyte cells found in moles on the surface of the skin.

Sara Shen’s work ‘Heart-Lungs’ combines and contrasts the patterns and forms found in the human body and in nature.

Sara Shen’s work ‘Heart-Lungs’ combines and contrasts the patterns and forms found in the human body and in nature.

“STEAM” opens from 15 February until 14 March 2023 at the Trans-disciplinary Discovery Commons at the HKBU Library.