Teaching Beyond the Curriculum

Abstract

A Human Laboratory” is an ongoing visual arts project that explores the many relationships between the artist’s camera and thecontemporary scientific techno-instrument. It employs photographic theory, media theory, the philosophy of science and practice-led research to document and explore elaborate scientific experiments. It is particularly interested in complex experiments whereresearchers are asking questions that are difficult to articulate and whose ramifications are yet unknown. Experiments such as thesearch for dark matter, understanding the mysteries of quantum mechanics and modelling complex climate change call forcreativity and ingenuity, but also require cultural and artistic investigation, which is often considered “after the fact”. As a significant part of the project, I have visited international laboratories such as CERN, the Svalbard Seed Vault, theExperimental Lakes Area, and the German Institute of Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). The project relies on collaboration betweendisciplines via access to specialist sites of research and equipment, in exchange for differing perspectives. It requires anunorthodox approach to constructing “ad-hoc” artist residencies within various scientific communities. My contribution will reinforcethe idea that artists as researchers have the opportunity to impact and contribute to a wide variety of seemingly unrelated fields, but must construct innovative opportunities to integrate themselves into broader societal communities. I will discuss the benefits,opportunities and exciting possibilities of “artist-imagined” residencies within elements of societies that remain unexplored,alongside extracts and images of my practice-based research outcomes.