Special effects designer to launch art/science exhibition

Published On Tue 27 May 2014 by Grant Hill

A major new exhibition showcasing a collection of significant artwork inspired by D’Arcy Thompson will open at the University of Dundee’s Tower Foyer and Lamb Galleries on Friday, 30th May.

‘A Glimpse of a Great Vision: The D'Arcy Thompson Art Fund Collection’ features works acquired by Museum Services as part of a two-year project funded by the Art Fund’s RENEW scheme. D’Arcy Thompson was Dundee's first Professor of Biology and his seminal book ‘On Growth and Form’ was hugely influential in a number of fields and continues to inspire artists and scientists to this day.

Artist and special effects designer Andy Lomas will launch the exhibition with a free talk about his work in the D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre at 5.30pm on Friday, 30th May. He has worked on ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’, ‘Avatar’ and the Matrix films and his computer-generated prints have been exhibited around the world.

Curator Matthew Jarron said, “D’Arcy Thompson had a huge influence on some of the most important artists of the 20th century, and continues to act as an inspiration today. We are celebrating his impact at the interface between art and science and are delighted to be welcoming Andy Lomas to open the exhibition with a talk about his career and D’Arcy’s legacy.

“As well as work by notable figures such as Henry Moore, Victor Pasmore, William Turnbull and Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, the collection includes recent work by noted modern artists like Will Maclean and Marion Smith, and specially commissioned pieces by cutting-edge talents such as Daniel Brown, Gemma Anderson and others.”

The exhibition, which runs until 26th July, features paintings, prints, sculpture, video and computer art exploring the links between art and science. A total of 65 works by 27 artists have been acquired or commissioned for the collection in addition to the D’Arcy Thompson Print Folio, which features work by a further 16 artists. ‘A Glimpse of a Great Vision’ will be accompanied by a new limited-edition artist’s book by Semper Fidelis.

Admission to the talk is free and there is no need to book places. The exhibition will run until 26 July and will be open from 9.30am-8.30pm on weekdays and from 9.30am-4.30pm each Saturday.

More information is available at http://www.dundee.ac.uk/museum/exhibitions/zoology/vision/.

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