The Royal Institute of Art and SciLifeLab have connected the creative minds of artists and scientists and the outcome of this fusion is explored in an exhibition at SciLifeLab campus.

In February 2023, scientists and art students were given the possibility to present their respective fields to each other through the initiative Coalescence; Scientific research through an artist’s lens. The results of the collaborations are now shown in an exhibition between April 25th and May 5th. Visitors will be able to indulge in artwork presented as sculptures, digital art, and various installations among others.

An exhibition at SciLifeLab campus Solna between April 25th and May 5th.”

“From an outreach perspective, I believe it is important to show researchers, artists, and the general public, that the two fields often share challenges and ways to work. This initiative brought out the artist inside each involved scientist and I am looking forward to continuing the dialogue with students at The Royal Institute of Art as well as other disciplines for similar events,” says Erdinç Sezgin, researcher and member of the Public Outreach and Engagement Committee at SciLifeLab.

The initiator of the project is Max Frankel, a guest student from the University of Colorado, currently doing research at SciLifeLab. “I believe that drawing, sculpting, and any form of creating are powerful tools that can help your mind in constructing new ideas, seeing beyond the patchwork of focus that one can hold in one’s mind, to make sure that parts fit together as a whole. I hope to continue to make use of my experience in art in my research and studies,” he says.

Visualization and inspiration

The collaboration gives the scientists a glimpse of how their work can be visualized, while the art students get inspiration and insight in life science by looking at the laboratory environment from the inside.

”I previously worked at companies that manufacture medtech products and with communication within healthcare, which I believe has a great impact on where my interests within art are directed,” says Zeinep Colpan, art student by the Royal Institute of Art.

Through a series of dialogues and experiments in the lab environment, I had the opportunity to artistically explore the area of the brain at a molecular level.”

“Through a series of dialogues and experiments in the lab environment, I had the opportunity to artistically explore the area of the brain at a molecular level. Within the field of Jan Mulder’s main interest Alzheimer’s disease,” says Tove Alderin, student at the Royal Institute of Art.

The exhibition takes place at SciLifeLab Campus Solna, Tomtebodavägen 23. It is open from April 25 to May 5, during SciLifeLab’s opening hours, Monday through Friday at 8 am to 5 pm.

Source: SciLifeLab. Photo: SciLifeLab