AHDS Visual Arts

The hunt for submarines in classical art; mappings

between scientific invention and artistic inspiration.

Dr Mike PringleDirector, AHDS Visual Arts

The hunt for submarines…?

The hunt for submarines…?

This interdisciplinary project is concerned with the use, within visual arts, of advanced imaging ICT developed in certain medical and military arenas.

ICT science for art

Taking a structured information-gathering approach, the project will:– conduct a focused survey of relevant

scientific research into such technologies;

Look at the science

Taking a structured information-gathering approach, the project will:– conduct a focused survey of relevant

scientific research into such technologies;– elicit a number of clearly-defined visual arts

needs;

Discover art ideas

Taking a structured information-gathering approach, the project will:– conduct a focused survey of relevant

scientific research into such technologies;– elicit a number of clearly-defined visual arts

needs;

– and produce mappings between them.

Introduce them to one another

New ways of seeing:– X-ray;– Magnetic resonance;– Astronomy;– Missile tracking;– Cellular imaging;

– Multi-spectral imaging.

Scientific invention

Scientific invention

New ways of thinking:– Protein modelling;– Hyperbolic trees;– Collaborative technologies;

– Augmented reality.

Scientific invention

Scientific invention

Simon Patterson, J.P.233 in C.S.O. Blue (1992)

New ways of presenting:– ‘Flexible paper’ technologies;– Dynamic, fluid images;– Interactive imaging;– Stereolithography;– Advanced virtual reality;– Holographic displays.

Scientific invention

Scientific invention

Martin Creed, Work No. 100 (1994)

New ways of finding:– Digital authentication of art;– Content-based image retrieval;– Medical interactive segmentation;– Intelligent vision systems;– Facial recognition;– Millimetre wave scanners.

Scientific invention

New ways of working:– Collaborative technologies (GRID);– Games engines;– Augmented reality;– Image manipulation software;– Interactivity.

Scientific invention

Scientific invention

Scientific invention

Scientific invention

Artistic spheres and ICT:– The creation of art;– Research tools;– Improvement of access to resources;– New ways of teaching– Enhanced exploration of art;

– Communication.

Artistic inspiration

• Extremely broad scope of ICT-based imaging technologies in the sciences

Challenges…

• Extremely broad scope of ICT-based imaging technologies in the sciences

• Boundaries between ICT and associated technologies (e.g. is MRI ICT?)

Challenges…

• Extremely broad scope of ICT-based imaging technologies in the sciences

• Boundaries between ICT and associated technologies (e.g. is MRI ICT?)

• Taxonomy for arts activity

Challenges…

• Extremely broad scope of ICT-based imaging technologies in the sciences

• Boundaries between ICT and associated technologies (e.g. is MRI ICT?)

• Taxonomy for arts activity

• Same words – different meanings

Challenges…

• Translation!

Hopes and aspirations

• Translation!

• Identification of ‘real’ art applications of new technologies or processes

Hopes and aspirations

• Translation!

• Identification of ‘real’ art applications of new technologies or processes

• Perhaps… science benefiting from art

Hopes and aspirations

• Translation!

• Identification of ‘real’ art applications of new technologies or processes

• Perhaps… science benefiting from art

• Collaborative projects

Hopes and aspirations

The project’s detailed information output will be extremely valuable for visual arts research…

Hopes and aspirations

…and the approach taken, using a bespoke, reusable method, has relevance in the exchange of ideas in other cross-domain projects, both in visual arts and in the wider arts and humanities community.

Hopes and aspirations