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Biophysical Sciences Institute
Leaf for biology experiment

Creative Encounters: Art Meets Science at Ushaw College

25 June 2025
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Artwork showing a stylised print of Alan Turing incorporating his landmark publications

Durham, UK – June 2025 — A exciting new exhibition at Ushaw College is inviting visitors to explore the vibrant intersection of art and science. Titled Creative Encounters, the exhibition celebrates the innovative collaborations between artists and scientists from our community, showcasing how creative dialogue can lead to fresh perspectives and unexpected insights.

Running throughout June, July, and August 2025, the exhibition is hosted in the Ambulacrum, an informal space adjacent to Ushaw's main gallery. It is curated by the Biophysical Sciences Institute, and extends our community's collegiate interdisciplinary approach to new collaborations with creative professionals.  

Two-Part Exhibition: Conversations and Inspiration

Creative Encounters is divided into two compelling sections: 

Creative Conversations 

Three unique collaborations between artists and scientists are showcased, each exploring a different scientific concept through artistic expression: 

  • Mark Burden & Dr Andrew Krause (Durham University's Mathematical Sciences) came together to explore Alan Turing’s theory of morphogenesis. Mark then used interactive simulations using the VisualPDE.com platform to visualize how biological patterns form. His work uses these in a stylized print of Turing, layered with excepts from Turing’s publications which highlight their mathematical elegance. 
  • Michaelle St Vincent (Lady M), Dr Alison Lane (Durham University’s Psychology), & Prof. Amanda Ellison (Durham University’s Psychology) together discussed the relationship between colour and smell. Lady M’s piece, Portrait of the Artist, features a gloriously colourful cross-section of a skull, inviting viewers to engage both visually and by “scratching and sniffing” the artworks – could you identify all the different scents?  
  • Laura Benetton & Prof. Steven Cobb (Durham University's Chemistry Department) are exploring the basis and utilisation of colour in nature. Though the is still in progress, this exhibition offers a preview of the interactive installations planned for 2026. 

Art Inspired by Science 

This section of the exhibition features artistic responses to a collection of scientific images gathered by Dr Robert Banks during his research and teaching career in Durham. These works were originally curated for the Durham University Botanic Garden and the full exhibition can be seen online. Selected pieces were chosen for display at Ushaw College to reflect the wide range of interpretations, from abstract to representational, of the scientific imagery which had emotional resonance for many. 

 

A Growing Community of Collaboration 

Since 2022, the BSI has fostered creative partnerships through events and ongoing support, aiming to make our research more accessible and engaging and foster new perspectives. The exhibition not only showcases the outcomes of these collaborations but also invites the public to join the conversation. 

Creative Encounters is a celebration of the curiosity and creativity of our community, and the power of interdisciplinary thinking. 

 

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