Project Details
Description
It is increasingly clear that a variety of chronic diseases are linked to dysbiosis of the microbiome (e.g., inflammatory bowel disorders such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis etc.) and the breakdown of endosymbiosis underpins mitochondrial disease. Despite the fundamental importance of symbiosis in human health the concept is not widely understood by the public. Artist Laurence Payot with scientists from the Universities of York and Sheffield are joining forces to create a new series of artworks aimed at engaging people with the science of symbiosis in health and disease. The outreach is linked to a NERC-funded project commencing January 2014 into the coevolution of symbioses to Brockhurst, Wood, Law (York) and Cameron (Sheffield). The project will test out new forms of participatory artworks inspired by concepts of symbioses, challenging the usual relationships between artwork and audience/participants to merge them into a sort of metaphorical symbiotic state. Interactive performances are the ideal medium for public engagement, as they can communicate scientific concepts in a non-verbal and entertaining way for all age groups.
Layman's description
It is increasingly clear that a variety of chronic diseases are linked to dysbiosis of the microbiome (e.g., inflammatory bowel disorders such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis etc.) and the breakdown of endosymbiosis underpins mitochondrial disease. Despite the fundamental importance of symbiosis in human health the concept is not widely understood by the public. Artist Laurence Payot with scientists from the Universities of York and Sheffield are joining forces to create a new series of artworks aimed at engaging people with the science of symbiosis in health and disease. The outreach is linked to a NERC-funded project commencing January 2014 into the coevolution of symbioses to Brockhurst, Wood, Law (York) and Cameron (Sheffield). The project will test out new forms of participatory artworks inspired by concepts of symbioses, challenging the usual relationships between artwork and audience/participants to merge them into a sort of metaphorical symbiotic state. Interactive performances are the ideal medium for public engagement, as they can communicate scientific concepts in a non-verbal and entertaining way for all age groups.
The first phase involves creating special photographic compositions of elected groups of members of the public, who might be family, friends or colleagues. The participants will be immersed in a dark room and invited to use tens of meters of glow-in-the-dark bead necklaces to create connections with each other. The beads, like floating bacteria seen under the microscope, will be brought to life by the people involved. The participants will have the science of symbisosis explained to them at the same time. They will then be interviewed afterwards to determine how far becoming part of a 'living sculpture' has helped to communicate the meaning of 'symbiosis' to them.
The second phase is to create three types of Living Sculptures with be designed and created with three selected groups. Each of the three sculptures will then be performed/activated by all three groups. Questionnaires, selected interviews and visual documentation will allow us to understand if and how the participants felt engage and inspired, how it helped them connect with the science, and which form they responded best to. The three sculptures forming part of the final kit will then be made available for touring to various community groups, galleries or festivals, as they will fold into a small and easily transportable box.
The first phase involves creating special photographic compositions of elected groups of members of the public, who might be family, friends or colleagues. The participants will be immersed in a dark room and invited to use tens of meters of glow-in-the-dark bead necklaces to create connections with each other. The beads, like floating bacteria seen under the microscope, will be brought to life by the people involved. The participants will have the science of symbisosis explained to them at the same time. They will then be interviewed afterwards to determine how far becoming part of a 'living sculpture' has helped to communicate the meaning of 'symbiosis' to them.
The second phase is to create three types of Living Sculptures with be designed and created with three selected groups. Each of the three sculptures will then be performed/activated by all three groups. Questionnaires, selected interviews and visual documentation will allow us to understand if and how the participants felt engage and inspired, how it helped them connect with the science, and which form they responded best to. The three sculptures forming part of the final kit will then be made available for touring to various community groups, galleries or festivals, as they will fold into a small and easily transportable box.
Key findings
RESULTS/IMPACT
Arts Council England grant for £10000 awarded to Laurence Payot to expand the project
COLLABORATIONS
Dr. Duncan Cameron (Sheffield), Dr Jamie Wood and Prof. Richard Law (York) have participated in the initial workshops funded by the C2D2 proposal, consolidating these collaboration. New collaborative links established with Tate Liverpool, Bedford Creative Arts, Create Ireland to host and deliver workshops; collaborations with York Festival of Ideas and Sheffield Festival of the Mind to host the art.
RESULTS
Groups of families and friends were presented with a flexible long rope of glow in the dark beads and asked to create forms in space to reveal their connections with each other. They were then photographed and afterward interviewed about their experience.
The lines appearing in darkness amongst the participants’ bodies become a constantly moving drawing, transformed by people’s emotions and intuitive responses. The ever-changing lines breathe like a living organism, dependent on people to keep alive, while in turn giving them an highlighted sense of being together here and now and revealing invisible but vital social connections.
100 people took part in the photo-shoot over two days (2/3 families – adults + children, 1/3 friends – students)
200 people engaged with the photos when exhibited at the June 2014 Festival of Ideas
Laurence Payot selected four photographs which were displayed as specially designed two-metre-high canvasses for two weeks March-April 2015 in the upper gallery of the York City Screen Picturehouse. 1000s of individuals will have passed by the images.
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED
Arts Award submitted to Wellcome Trust
PUBLICATIONS SUBMITTED
Arts Council England grant for £10000 awarded to Laurence Payot to expand the project
COLLABORATIONS
Dr. Duncan Cameron (Sheffield), Dr Jamie Wood and Prof. Richard Law (York) have participated in the initial workshops funded by the C2D2 proposal, consolidating these collaboration. New collaborative links established with Tate Liverpool, Bedford Creative Arts, Create Ireland to host and deliver workshops; collaborations with York Festival of Ideas and Sheffield Festival of the Mind to host the art.
RESULTS
Groups of families and friends were presented with a flexible long rope of glow in the dark beads and asked to create forms in space to reveal their connections with each other. They were then photographed and afterward interviewed about their experience.
The lines appearing in darkness amongst the participants’ bodies become a constantly moving drawing, transformed by people’s emotions and intuitive responses. The ever-changing lines breathe like a living organism, dependent on people to keep alive, while in turn giving them an highlighted sense of being together here and now and revealing invisible but vital social connections.
100 people took part in the photo-shoot over two days (2/3 families – adults + children, 1/3 friends – students)
200 people engaged with the photos when exhibited at the June 2014 Festival of Ideas
Laurence Payot selected four photographs which were displayed as specially designed two-metre-high canvasses for two weeks March-April 2015 in the upper gallery of the York City Screen Picturehouse. 1000s of individuals will have passed by the images.
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED
Arts Award submitted to Wellcome Trust
PUBLICATIONS SUBMITTED
| Status | Active |
|---|---|
| Effective start/end date | 8/10/13 → … |