5 Apr 2012

The All Round View: C.H.Waddington Reconsidered by Mhairi Towler

As a scientist turned artist I am exploring how animation can be adapted for scientific visualisation. My work aims to investigate different visual/digital methods to tell the story of biological processes. As the focus for this paper, I will describe the work I have carried out on my placement module with artist Dr. Paul Harrison at the Visual Research Centre at the University of Dundee, and discuss how this experience has influenced my own practice and development as an artist.

Dr. Harrison was invited to be part of a European network of excellence entitled ‘Epigenesys’. Epigenesys combines interdisciplinary research into epigenetics and systems biology, and work is required to visualise this research in both a specialist and public context. Dr. Harrisons project, ‘Epigenetic Landscapes’ will include exhibitions, workshops and publications – one of which will include a retrospective/reappraisal of the work of Conrad Hal Waddington, a leading geneticist from the 1930’s onwards, who first established the term ‘epigenetics’ (Slack, J.M.W., 2002). The brief for my placement was to work collaboratively with Dr. Harrison to explore the work of Waddington, and produce visual outcomes for the ‘epigenetic landscape’ concept that he conceived.

Throughout my placement I have been reflecting upon, and evaluating the way in which my creative/artistic practice is affected holistically. I hope this reflective process will give me a deeper insight into what can improve/hamper my practice. My findings from this experience, both practical and theoretical, will be discussed.

See Mhairi's blog here

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