TWO new portraits of leading Scottish scientists were yester- day unveiled at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. The portraits by two Scottish contemporary artists are being unveiled to coincide with the opening of the Edinburgh In- ternational Science Festival.
The two works are The Oncologists by Ken Currie, 42, and The Roslin Institute Scientists by Wendy McMurdo, 40. The Oncologists portrays Sir Alfred Cuschieri, Sir David Lane and Professor Robert J Steele, from Dundee University, who are leaders in the field of cancer research.
Patricia Convery, from the National Galleries of Scotland, said: "The painting is stark and extremely direct. "The artist manages to convey the importance of his sitters and the significance of their research through the picture's haunting intensity and bleakness.
"In this respect, Ken Currie's triple portrait is an innovative commission for the Scottish National Portrait Gallery." Sir Alfred is the Professor and Head of Surgery at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, and a pioneer of keyhole surgery. Sir David Lane is renowned for his research into how the molecular basis of cell growth can control human cancer. Professor Robert J Steele is a world expert on surgery for colorectal cancer.
The Roslin Institute Scientists contains four large images which depict the main phases involved in the process of cloning Dolly. The cloning of the sheep in February 1997 made the institute a pioneer in research on molecular and quantitative genetics, genomics, reproduction and animal behaviour. There are four different stages in the process captured in the digitally manipulated pho- tographic images.
They portray embryologist Bill Ritchie, Marjorie Ritchie and John Bracken in surgery, the process of foetal scanning, and Ian Wilmut in the laboratory.The two portraits were completed this year.Mr Currie, from Tyne and Wear, graduated from the Glasgow School of Art, while Edinburgh-born Ms McMurdo studied at Goldsmith's College,London.
A spokesperson for the University of Dundee said, "The unveiling of these new works at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery is a fascinating example of how art today is increasingly using science as its subject matter - and coincidentally highlights two of the University of Dundee's main strengths -cutting edge science and digital art. The Oncologists portrays three medical scientists central to the University's world-renowned expertise in medical and life sciences while Wendy McMurdo, a lecturer in Fine Art at the Duncan of Jordanstone Faculty of Art and Design, shows the University to be home to some of the finest talent in the field of visual arts."