Mixing science with wearable art at reSkin
It was with a little trepidation that six presenters from the ANU Centre for the Science and Engineering of Materials (CSEM) got up in front of a group of artists and crafts people from all over Australia to discuss various aspects of materials science and engineering.
After all, artists are a different race from scientists and engineers. They think differently, use different language and approach things in a different way. Could materials science offer anything of value or of interest to them?
The occasion was a workshop called 'Welcome to my material world' and it was run as part of reSkin, a Media Lab run by the Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT). The lab is running at the ANU School of Art over the second half of January and involves around 30 artists designing and producing wearable technology.
CSEM was asked if it could arrange a workshop in which some of the University's work on materials might be showcased. The hope was that the artists might find some inspiration in the research, and a possible reference point for their own work. The six presenters were David Salt (Material Monthly/CSEM), Tim Senden (Applied Maths), Erica Seccombe (artist in residence/Applied Maths), Ray Prowse (Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems) and Milli Styles (Department of Engineering).
"As it turned out, the CSEM presenters had nothing to worry about. The artists found the presentations informative, educational and exciting," says David.
Following the talks the reSkinners engaged the speakers in lengthy discussions over drinks. Who knows what wearable art we will see in the future?
