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In the beginning, art and science were one. Now they seem to be looked at as completely separate entities, despite scientists and artists having many things in common. Both need curiosity, attention to detail, creativity, and commitment to succeed. They both explore new ideas and with that, they often try to break the existing boundaries. Different scientists give their perspectives on the power of bringing art and science together.

In the beginning, art and science were one. Now they seem to be looked at as completely separate entities, despite scientists and artists having many things in common. Both need curiosity, attention to detail, creativity, and commitment to succeed. They both explore new ideas and with that, they often try to break the existing boundaries. Different scientists give their perspectives on the power of bringing art and science together.

In her TED-talk about communicating science, Mona Schreiber describes the power of visual communication of scientific results [1]. Scientific articles are mostly written for other scientists, which is a language that most people do not understand. To bring science to the public, a universal language is needed; the arts. She has now started an initiative called 'The Art of Science'. The idea is to build a network where people from both worlds connect directly. "We want to combine the power of knowledge by the scientist with the power of visual communication by the artist and storytelling by a journalist."[1]

Another inquiring mind is Fabian Oefner. According to Fabian, making science into art can not only be incredible to look at but it can also make you think more about how the science works. In his work he tries to take scientific phenomena and show them in an artistic but representative way [2]. An example is one of his works in which he uses magnets, ferrofluid, and watercolors (see picture). "By bringing the two views together I want to speak to the viewer's heart but also to the viewer's brain."[2]

By bringing the two views together I want to speak to the viewer's heart but also to the viewer's brain.

Another interesting take on science and art comes from scientist Ainissa Ramirez [3]. She describes how as a young girl she watched a tv show about a black girl doing science experiments. Art inspired her to become a scientist because she saw herself reflected in the little girl on screen. Showing technology and science in art can put a human element to it. "Art gives us a vision about what life can be like. Science needs a vision of what the future will look like."[3] Science in art can inspire people to get to know more about new technologies and things they have never seen before. Art imitates science and science imitates art.

Art gives us a vision about what life can be like. Science needs a vision of what the future will look like.

Many more people are recognizing the interesting interplay between art and science. This has also led to an initiative in 2020 by the GSLS called 'I Art My Science' [4]. Here students could submit the art they have made from their research, to put their results in a new light. It becomes clear that art can lift up science and vice versa in many ways. Art and science do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Sources:

[1] Schreiber, M. (2018, August). The Art of Science - Make science more colorful [video]. TED conferences.

[2] Oefner, F. (2013, April). When science meets art [video]. TED conferences.

[3] Ramirez, A. (2014, April). Where art and science meet [video]. TED conferences.

[4] GSLS I Art My Science. (2020, March 23). Retrieved on January 26, 2021, from /news/i-art-my-science-launch