19 September 2004
Inspiration and Discovery
Leading contemporary artist and sculptor David Mach is to become the University of Dundee's first
visiting professor of Inspiration and Discovery.
With internationally renowned expertise in life sciences and medicine, a top ranking art school, and
strong links with DCA through the Visual Research Centre, the University has a reputation for excellence
in both science and art. Now relationships between these two areas are to be enhanced by an exciting new
project involving artists and scientists from across the University.
The project starts with a 'science meets art' symposium on 1 October at Sensation Science Centre, Dundee.
Inspiration and Discovery: Engaging with Life Sciences through Life Arts is designed to enable artists
and scientists to familiarise themselves with each other’s work and to stimulate interest, thought, debate
and discussion leading to the creation of new works of art related to aspects of science.
Dundee alumnus David Mach, whose collages are featured in the new Playfair Project in Edinburgh and whose
latest exhibition of collages opens in London on 11 October, will address the symposium’s morning session. A number of DJCAD artists and life scientists will also present their work in a series of short showcase sessions.
The project has a longer-term element too, through the new role David Mach is playing at the University.
David will make a number of visits over the coming year to engage with the work of life scientists and
artists with a view to developing ideas for a public work of art based on the life sciences.
Each visit will introduce Mach to key concepts, issues, imagery, data and visual vocabulary associated
with life sciences topics as well as familiarising him with the campus and its planned development. By
allowing one of the UK’s leading contemporary public artists to work one to one with scientists, and by
giving him unique access to a new world of life sciences issues and imagery, the aim is catalyse the
process of inspiration and discovery.
Professor Pete Downes, Dean of the School of Life Sciences, commented, "You may think that arts and
science occupy opposite ends of the educational spectrum, but bioscientists in Dundee have long
recognised the artistic potential of organisms, cells and the molecules of life.
The appointment of David Mach brings together one of the UK’s leading and most innovative artists with
Dundee's world leading biologists. The outcome can't be predicted but the process with be both exciting
and fun."
Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design Professor Georgina Follett welcomed the
appointment, "David is an artist who challenges our visual perceptions through making the ordinary
extraordinary. The opportunity to collaborate across the disciplines of science and art will open up a
new visual vocabulary which I am sure will reveal the extraordinary, and bring this visual force into our
everyday perceptions."
David Mach said, "This is going to be an incredible source of inspiration and discovery for me. The Life
Sciences at Dundee University are so exciting I am sure I will be exposed to an unimaginable range of
visuals and ideas. What luck to be involved in such a project."
To book your place at the Inspiration and Discovery Symposium on 1 October email
b.m.smeaton@dundee.ac.uk
Contact Press Officer on 07968 298585
By Jenny Marra, Head of Press 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, j.m.marra@dundee.ac.uk | 
