Morphogenesis

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation carried out a cross-cultural inter-disciplinary project inspired by International Year of Biodiversity 2010, with a view to forming a trans-national network, involving scientific research, arts and crafts.
The British artist Rob Kesseler, who has extensive experience working with botanical scientists at Kew Gardens (UK), worked with the scientists at the IGC exploring a variety of microscopic processes, examining micro patterning within samples he collected from Portuguese wildflowers, and also animal models (fruit fly, butterflies, ants and mice) used within the IGC

The result of all his research was a series of powerful, high chroma images that lie somewhere between science and symbolism.

Reflecting the way in which science and the natural world migrates into many aspects of our daily lives his images were also translated into prints on fabric and a porcelain collection produced in collaboration with Vista Alegre Atlantis (Jardim Porcelânico).

“It has been an awesome challenge and an inspiring opportunity to spend a concentrated period of time working alongside so many brilliant minds.” Rob Kesseler

In the UK, The University of Oxford Botanic Garden is hosted Portuguese artists Gabriela Albergaria, who worked with diverse tree species in the University’s Harcourt Arboretum, just outside Oxford.

Watch a video of Rob's impression of life observed around Lisbon and under the microscopes of the IGC.

Here are links to shows, talks and exhibitions where Rob has shown part or all of the work developed while at the IGC: