Date
15-28 October 2018
Location
Trieste, Italy
Exhibition
24 – 28 Nov, Bucharest
Overview
Our Nature represents the first curatorial theme in a series of Art & Science residencies organized in collaboration with FIT (Fondatione Internationale Trieste) under the umbrella of Pro-ESOF2020 (European Science Open Forum 2020).
The purpose of this residency was to build a collaborative bridge between artists and researchers from Eastern and Central Europe and to position the artist as a new interpreter of scientific information, making it possible to translate rigid scientific concepts into artistic creations and expressions.
Under the theme of Our Nature the participants explored both the human nature, the inner self, and the relationship between the individual and the environment. Thus many questions were raised on different topics, like self-awareness, emotions, sustainability, ecology and the environment, gene technology and cosmic chaos.
The Research Institutes
The participating Romanian artists visited 6 research institutes, where they had access to advanced scientific information – from astrophysics, biotechnology, spectroscopy, geophysics, genetics to marine sciences – supplemented with numerous debates, as well as opportunities to test specialized equipment.
Elettra Sincotrone
Elettra Sincotrone Trieste is an international research centre specialized in the study of materials using a highly versatile and powerful tool: synchrotron light. Why light? Because light allows us to see the details of the structure and behaviour of atoms and molecules. We visited several experimental stations and learned about pollution in bird feathers and phytomining.
SISSA
The International School of Advanced Sciences accommodates 47 nations, doing research in three main areas: Physics, Mathematics and Neuroscience. We had a first introduction in SISSA’s background followed by a “speed date” with a researcher where we’ve talked about neurobiology, cosmology, dark matter, natural dyes and cognitive neuroscience.
ICTP
Cutting-edge research education and training. Our visit at ICTP started with a private morning glass in string theory and black holes with Prof dr. Atish Dabholkar. We’ve discussed LIGO, quantum mechanics and the nature of scientific discovery. We thank the ICTp’s High Energy Cosmology and Astro-particle Physics research department (HECAP) for this experience.
ICTP Fablab
The ICTP Scientific FabLab is open to all ICTP scientists with the possibility of welcoming also external research projects and educational initiatives, that are of benefit for the whole society. We got a round tour of it’s facilities, experimented with 3d Printing and CNC laser-cutting and explored the workings of a cloud chamber.
ICGEB
The scientific activity of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology focuses on advanced projects in current biomedical research. Here we’ve spent most of our time looking through microscopes at various cells. It is one of the institutes that influenced two of the artist’s works and left us with more questions than before.
OGS: Oceanography
The Division of Oceanography studies include physical and biological oceanography, biogeochemistry, marine ecology and modeling of marine systems. Counting on its own vessel, the OGS Explora—an oceanographic research ship that travels often to Antarctica—OGS works to evaluate and prevent geological, environmental and climatic risks.
OGS: Exp. Geophysics
The Seismological Research centre at OGS monitors the seismicity occurring in North-East Italy and its surroundings. Here we learned about earth quakes and how to foresee them and visited the institutes archive, where historical seismical data of the region are preserved.
The Exhibition
The Our Nature exhibition in Bucharest presented the results of the first Art meets Science residency project, that took place in Trieste, European City of Science. The special guest of this event was Prof. Paola Rodari – coordinator of ESOF 2020 (European Science Open Forum) who was our host, teacher, curator and guide in the artistic and scientific world of Italy.
The exhibition concluded the research and artistic production period of the 6 Romanian artists: Floriama Cândea (Bucharest), Tudor Ciurescu (Bucharest), George Crîngasu (Cluj-Napoca), Catrinel Săbăciag (Cluj-Napoca), Marius Jurca | 13m10j (Timișoara), Livia Mateiaș (Timișoara).
Floriama Cândea
Each Ship at (a) Time is an Unique Event
Inspired by the laboratory practices, Floriama’s series of objects pursues the aesthetics of organic matter and how it can be manipulated for non-instrumental purposes.
In this case, extracellular molds (ECMs) of animal organs coexist with artificial objects in an attempt to create uncertainty about the origin and integrity of matter. Deprived of their organic identity, the ghost organs, as they are called in the medical environment, remain suspended in this state – they become mere ornaments resembling the silicone implants that accompany them. This resemblance may raise questions about the redefinition of the boundary between animate and inanimate, between subject and object.
Tudor Ciurescu
Geste Quantique
There is a light and it never goes out, said the vocalist of The Smiths. In the quantum world, this verse is an absolute truth.
Inspired by the aesthetics of the visited research centers, Tudor’s work refers to the words that attracted his attention – Quantum Espresso. In fact, a series of open-source computer codes for nanoscale material modeling, in this case ….. endless possibilities.
Tudor Ciurescu
Geste Quantique
There is a light and it never goes out, said the vocalist of The Smiths. In the quantum world, this verse is an absolute truth.
Inspired by the aesthetics of the visited research centers, Tudor’s work refers to the words that attracted his attention – Quantum Espresso. In fact, a series of open-source computer codes for nanoscale material modeling, in this case ….. endless possibilities.
George Crîngașu
AGS (Automatic Growth Systems)
An idealized illustration of the process of organ growth, using stem cells. An incubation capsule of organs, a controlled environment for their development, based on renewable energy.
George’s work inspiration was ICGEB and their stem cell research, which would essentially allow the growth of human organs, using stem cells. What would a success in this context mean, namely the possibility of providing some kind of “spare parts” for the human body? How will this success influence our future, and the way we look at the human body?
13m10j / Marius Jurca
Brain Entropy
Brain Entropy is a scientific-artistic experiment, which aims to explore, from an aesthetic point of view, the new possibilities for artistic creation, using current technologies from the field of neuroscience.
The experiment, at an early stage of development, represents an attempt to visualize and objectify the neuronal processes manifested at brain level, using an interactive graphical interface, an electroencephalogram and a series of algorithms. The investigated mental process is the randomness, or better said, the entropy of the decision-making process, as an integrated part of the human identity.
13m10j / Marius Jurca
Brain Entropy
Brain Entropy is a scientific-artistic experiment, which aims to explore, from an aesthetic point of view, the new possibilities for artistic creation, using current technologies from the field of neuroscience.
The experiment, at an early stage of development, represents an attempt to visualize and objectify the neuronal processes manifested at brain level, using an interactive graphical interface, an electroencephalogram and a series of algorithms. The investigated mental process is the randomness, or better said, the entropy of the decision-making process, as an integrated part of the human identity.
Livia Mateiaș
Matter Between Us
What is real? Can we measure or define the reality of our perception?
“Matter Between Us” tries to make the invisible connection between two different energy fields visible. This can only be perceived by focusing the gaze on one point, so that the two fields merge and create a third field, which exists only at the level of perception, but which combines the two and creates a new model with different properties. This optical fusion offers a perspective on another layer of reality, one that can be perceived but is not real. Thus we can go back and ask again: What is real?
Catrinel Săbăciag
Timescapes : from Clocks to Outerspace
The starting point of Catrinel’s work was the pendulum, an object that is used in science and in everyday life to measure very different phenomena and frequencies of time. She chose three types of pendulums to illustrate how their behavior speaks about the temporal landscape of the space they measure.
The first, a clock pendulum, represents human time, with regular, predictable and mechanical movements. The middle one, a stone pendulum, characterized by chaotic and unpredictable movements, refers to the geological time. The third pendulum, representing the cosmic time, reproduces a vast, calm and silent temporal landscape.
Catrinel Săbăciag
Timescapes : from Clocks to Outerspace
The starting point of Catrinel’s work was the pendulum, an object that is used in science and in everyday life to measure very different phenomena and frequencies of time. She chose three types of pendulums to illustrate how their behavior speaks about the temporal landscape of the space they measure.
The first, a clock pendulum, represents human time, with regular, predictable and mechanical movements. The middle one, a stone pendulum, characterized by chaotic and unpredictable movements, refers to the geological time. The third pendulum, representing the cosmic time, reproduces a vast, calm and silent temporal landscape.
Partners
Media Partners
Co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration
The project does not necessarily represent the position of the National Cultural Fund Administration. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or the way the project results can be used. These fall entirely under the responsibility of to the beneficiary of the funding.