Art Exhibition puts Spotlight on the Hidden Side of Science

A new art exhibition at the Sidney Cooper Gallery organized by two University of Kent academics puts the spotlight on the hidden side of science – and reveals the role of a ‘lucky rabbit’ as an unlikely source of inspiration in one laboratory.

Entitled Chain Reaction, the exhibition marks the 30th anniversary of the development for laboratory use of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) procedure. PCR multiplies fragments of DNA, and has ensured advances in genetic science such as forensic analysis, diagnostic tests and biotechnology. But rather than presenting a conventional celebration of the anniversary, Chain Reaction poses searching questions about why science has been seen throughout history as a series of big ‘eureka’ moments.

Dr Charlotte Sleigh and Dr Dan Lloyd have worked together to organise the exhibition. Running until 21 December, Chain Reaction suggests – through the work of six artists – that science through the ages should not be seen as big breakthrough moments, but rather as a series of unsung processes.

A new art exhibition in Canterbury organized by two University academics puts the spotlight on the hidden side of science.Image courtesy of the University of KentDr Sleigh said: “Science is not all about fancy ideas or extraordinary outcomes. Simple and basic graft is the biggest part of it. This is a show not about the products, but about the processes of science and the people involved.

“Sometimes PCR simply doesn’t work and the scientists themselves don’t know why. Dealing with this can introduce an element of irrational ritual into what they do; I know of one laboratory where the scientists 'believe' that each time they see a rabbit in the woods the PCR will work.

“Two of the artworks on display in the exhibition, Stig Evans' painting Ritual and his prayer kneelers embroidered with DNA, playfully respond to this rarely discussed aspect of science.”

As well as Stig Evans, among the other artists exhibiting are Annie Halliday, whose work Sum of the Parts explores the key concepts of doubling and copying implicit in the PCR process, and Tony Stallard, whose work Mutation explores the nature of mutation, both in genetics and as a random variable.

Dr Lloyd said: “The process of artists working with scientists has revealed true insights into how science works. It has been fascinating to see how artists and scientists alike have explored PCR and communicated its significance in this exhibition. In doing so, they have learned so much about each other’s practice - as well as their own.”

Hazel Stone, Exhibition Curator at the Sidney Cooper Gallery, which is part of Canterbury Christ Church University, said: “This exhibition successfully combines science and art in a way that embodies approaches taken by historians of science.”

Other artists exhibiting as part of Chain Reaction are Sarah Craske, Katy Price, and Andy Birtwistle.