25 February 2010

Fruit, veg, art and design combine in new exhibition

The Origin of Food Exhibition

An exhibition celebrating an unusual fusion of art and science goes on show at the University of Dundee this weekend.

Graphic Design students at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, part of the University, have been working with SCRI, Scotland’s leading centre for crop research based in Invergowrie.

As part of the International Year of Biodiversity, the students were asked to take a designer’s view of the fruit and vegetables that are the subject of much of the work at SCRI.

Scientists at SCRI are working on ways of increasing crop yields - especially for farmers in developing countries. They are investigating the many health benefits of soft fruit and vegetables and they also research pests and diseases that may be carried north into Scotland by climate change.

The design ideas generated by the partnership go on show at an exhibition, which involves communicating science through three-dimensional typographic installations. The exhibition opens at DJCAD’s Matthew Gallery on Friday, February 26th.

A total of 21 students took part in the project, which was conceived by Graphic Design lecturers Jackie Malcolm and Gordon Simpson.

Jackie said, 'This project has been very challenging for the students. Marrying design and science together is very interesting and certainly has enhanced the learning experience for the students allowing them to investigate issues outside their own discipline.

'This, I believe, is the future for design, and we are very grateful to SCRI for all their support with this project.'

A spokesman for SCRI said: 'We are working with partners around the world to boost the healthy contents in fruit and vegetables. A good deal of the work, including a recently announced raspberry breeding programme, is funded by the Scottish Government.

'We are no strangers to the arts: for eighteen months we were home to an artist-in-residence, the Dundee-based Ronnie Forbes RSA. He has a one man show based on the SCRI work due to go on show in Edinburgh in April.

'We were delighted to be able to work with the graphic design students and were bowled over by their enthusiasm and good level of knowledge about the health benefits of potatoes, barley and soft fruit.'

A preview evening will take place on Friday, February 26th before the exhibition opens to the public the following day. It will run for one week in DJCAD’s Matthew Gallery,and is open 9.30am-5pm weekdays and between 10am-4.30pm on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
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