23.05.2011 - 05.06.2011

"Blue Morph" - installation of Victoria Vesna and James Gimzewski

Blue Morph, an installation that we will have a pleasure to present in the St. John’s church is a result of collaboration between an artist, Victoria Vesna and a scientist, James Gimzewski.

Victoria Vesna is a profossorof the University of California, a head of the newly opened UCLA Art/Sci Center and UC Digital Arts Research Network. Her works are defined as experimental, creative searches on the edge of different scientific disciplines and technology. Their aim is to raise a question of man’s attitude towards natural systems and man’s dependence on nature.

The Scotish scientist, James Gimzewski, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry on the University of California is an eminent specialist in nanotechnology.

This art-sci duo shall present to the Tri-City audience its unique, innovative work that came into being by using nanotechnology.
Blue Morph is their latest interactive installation – it makes us aware of how nanotechnologies change our perception of life. This is symbolic in the blue morpho butterfly with the optics involved - that beautiful blue color is not pigment at all but patterns and structure which is what nano-photonics is centered on studying. The lamellate structure of their wing scales has been studied as a model in the development of fabrics, dye-free paints, and anti-counterfeit technology such as that used in monetary currency. Blue Morpho has intrigued scientists for generations because of its subtle optical engineering that manipulated photons. Today, its dazzling iridescent wings are giving rise to a market trying to mimic its wonder and create a counterfeit proof currency and credit cards. The optics are no doubt fascinating but the real surprise is in the discovery of the way cellular change takes place in a butterfly. Sounds of metamorphosis are not gradual or even that pleasant as we would imagine it. Rather the cellular transformation happens in sudden surges that are broken up with stillness and silence. Then there are the eight pumps or "hearts" that remain constant throughout the changes, pumping the rhythm in the background. During the transformation to emergence each flattened cell of the wing becomes a nanophotonic structure of black protein and space leading to iridescence.

The opening of an installation will take place May 22, 8.00 pm (admission free).
Installation will be open for audience till June 5 - 12.00-8.00 pm Monday-Saturday and 3.00-8.00 pm on Sundays.

TICKETS: 5 zł (concessionary), 10 zł (regular)

Curator: prof. Ryszard W. Kluszczyński
Producent: Anna Zalewska
Organiser: Baltic Sea Cultural Centre
Partners: Centre for Contemporary Art Łaźnia and National Centre of Culture within the project Art & Science Meeting.