Ruptures and Wrong-Footings: Destabilizing Disciplinary Cultures

In this transcribed conversation, three artists from the research group The Cultural Negotiation of Science (UK) consult each other on the different generational perspectives they bring to the contested field of arts-science research. Traversing territories between art-practice, physics, genetics and critical theory, their practice-based strategies actively destabilize the binary nature of cross-disciplinary dialogue in productive ways, allowing the spaces between artistic and scientific modes of enquiry to become sites of learning, both within and beyond academic institutions.

Chromatophony: A Potential Application of Living Images in the Pixel Era

Squids can rapidly change their body color using chromatophores that are controlled by electrical signals transmitted through nerves. The authors transform a squid's skin into an audio visualizer, Chromatophony. This is accomplished by sending an electric tone signal composed as music to the skin. Although the appearance of Chromatophony is similar to computer-generated images, it is based on a natural phenomenon with a colorful mosaic display. By comparing chromatophores with pixels, the authors propose Living Images, to expand the potential of visual expression from the perspective of bio-art theory.

Folded Electronic Textiles: Weaving, Knitting, Pleating and Coating Three-dimensional Sensor Structures

This paper reports findings from a one-month design research project, in which four textile and fashion designers engaged in collaborative making on technical and artistic knowledge embedded in ‘folds and folding’. Textile technologies and construction methods to design, fabricate and analyze three-dimensional dynamic materiality in electronic textiles (e-textiles) were explored. The focus is on sensor structures achieved by knitting, weaving, pleating and coating techniques. Measurements of electrical resistance between one and 36 sensing areas per sample demonstrate the added value of folds integrated into textiles sensor structures, which are high resolution and soft touch (weave), high responsiveness to small movements (pleat), combining stretch and pressure in one movement (knit) and broadening aesthetics and choice for sensing materials (coating). Detailed information on design, fabrication and experimental results is provided as Supplementary Material to this article.

The Algae Society BioArt Design Lab: Exploring multispecies entanglements and making kin with algae

The Algae Society BioArt Design Lab is a global collective of interdisciplinary researchers working together with algae as non-human international research partners. As a collaborative group of artists, scientists and scholars, they experiment and co-produce with algae, seeking to highlight complex human interdependence and kinship with algal beings. Here they introduce the Algae Society and share a collective collage of their evolving artistic works while reflecting on each researcher's process, materiality, and aesthetic considerations. With these works, they endeavor to shift our perspectives from human-centric exceptionalism to greater appreciation and cultural reframing of our responsibility as participants in multispecies worlding.

Aesthetics of Turntable Art

This article explores the transitional and liminal nature of the author's work and examines the diverse theoretical foundations that inform his creative practice. The particular work discussed here, Wow&Flutter, explores the intermedial relationships between “quotation,” “remediation” and “plunderphonics” within turntable art using acetate vinyl. This work was presented in the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) and the National Concert Hall, Ireland (NCH), between 2014 and 2018.

Karel Nel & COSMOS: A Far-Reaching Artist-in-Residence Collaboration

The phenomena of the universe form a common focus for the interrelationship between art that has space as its central concern and the astronomical sciences, as both disciplines strive to observe and express the mysteries of the cosmos. An unwavering mutual interest in space and mutual respect for each discipline form the nexus between the two. Some scientific projects have artist-in-residence programs that promote innovative art/science dialogues. Although most residencies are designed for the short term, one has certainly stood the test of time. The authors analyze one 15-year collaboration between visual artist Karel Nel and Caltech's Cosmic Evolution Survey, COSMOS.