Celebrating the art of science

Saturday 23 March 2013

The connection between science, technology and art is boundless.

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This year’s Edinburgh Science Festival has a diverse programme, writes Jan Patience

Even the word "technology" is a combination of the ancient Greek words for the systematic treatment of art (techne) and logic (logia). Leonardo da Vinci is just one example of a great artist who moved seamlessly between the arts and science – never seeing the join because, in his eyes, there was no join.

This year's Edinburgh International Science Festival, which officially starts today, celebrates 25 years of introducing audiences of all ages to innovative and entertaining science, and it is marking the occasion with a diverse programme of events over the next two weeks. And, as in previous years, there are several art exhibitions dotted around the capital which talk out the themes of the festival.One of the major spectacles is a specially commissioned balloon sculpture from New York-based artist Jason Hackenwerth, which will reach from floor to ceiling in the Grand Gallery of the National Museum of Scotland (NMS). Hackenwerth's trademark is creating giant, luminously funky versions of the twisty balloon creatures that are popular at children's parties. From today, visitors to NMS can watch the artist and his team create Pisces in situ as hundreds of balloons are woven together. The finished work will be on display until April 14.Another highlight, which has been running in St Andrew Square since the end of January, is an outdoor photographic exhibition celebrating the work of some of the world's leading photographers who have been inspired by natural symmetry. Patterns In Nature examines the beauty and complexity of nature, from individual snowflakes to the stripes of an angelfish. Landscape architect Charles Jencks and artist and sculptor Peter Randall-Page look at how nature has inspired their work.Down at the Botanic Gardens, there is a must-see exhibition called Northern Paintings. New and recent work by Derek Roberts, who lives and works in a remote setting outside Edinburgh, has been selected and installed by the artist to take advantage of the wonderful natural light in the seven rooms of Inverleith House.This beautiful setting is the perfect place for Roberts's work, which is abstract but painterly at the same time, reflecting nature in bold organic chunks of colour. What I like about Inverleith House is that is a wonderful backdrop for work which is comfortable in its own skin and this makes this exhibition, which runs until April 14, a joy to behold.Just a short walk away, and still in the Botanic Gardens, you'll find Green Universe: A Microscopic Voyage Into The Plant Cell at the Gateway Gallery on Arboretum Place. This exhibition, taken from the newly published book by Professor Stephen Blackmore, reveals the profound consequences the invention of microscopy has had on our understanding of plants.Heading back into the city, at the National Library of Scotland, there is an exploration of the work of influential but little-known female Scottish scientists, including astronomer Williamina Fleming, geologist Maria Gordon and herbalist Elizabeth Blackwell.Edinburgh Printmakers on Union Street is showcasing a solo exhibition of work by Marilene Oliver, called Confusao. This is the artist's first solo exhibition since she moved to Angola and sees Oliver, who for many years has worked with medical imaging data to create sculptures, refine her work with a series of dark and haunting etchings that juxtapose the digitised body with African traditions and rituals.And finally, The Clipperton Project: Conflict Of Interest, is a "view from the street" exhibition at Edinburgh College of Art's Tent Gallery, featuring work by Charles Engebretsen. The sculptor, who was born into a crofting community on the Isle of Lewis, examines ideas of isolation and man's relationship with extreme environments in his work. In this exhibition, his sculptures examine conflicts in nature.So far, so mind-bogglingly good.Edinburgh International Science Festival (www.sciencefestival.co.uk) is at various venues in Edinburgh until April 7

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Celebrating the art of science

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