Chris Bathgate is Engineering Art

You wouldn't expect a painter to piece together a custom brush bristle by bristle. A Photographer doesn't spend his time improving an optical lens made by cannon. Nor do illustrators make their own pencils or pastels.

Which makes Chris Bathgate a very unique artist: If he needs it, he builds it.

These are the mostly unforeseen works, the product of the Chris Bathgate process. Over the years necessity has prompted the formation of Computerised Numerical Control (CNC) machines (a large mill and two smaller lathes), Digitally operated kilns, electroplating tanks and anodizing equipment that you wont find in any gallery or private collection.

Robert Langs Origami as Art & Science

The perception of Origami held by most is that of an obscure Japanese folk art. Challenging this perception is the work of Robert Lang who's detailed and highly complex folds are in keep with Origami's recent transformation from art to science.

The 1980s marked a turning point for Origami as it increasingly became the subject of mathematicians, scientists and engineers. The next decade welcomed a flood of ideas, theories and genuine breakthroughs exposing a truth and power in Origami marking it's renascence and future direction.

Scorpion HP, opus 541 | One uncut square of Korean hanji paper | Copyright Robert Lang

Art Imitating Hard Science

Inspired by the physics of Fermilab on a recent tour with physicist Teppei Katori, joint curators Chuck Przybyl and Edyta Stepien have encouraged a pose of artists to create an ensemble fit for showcasing the universe.


Hard Science - Any of the natural or physical sciences wherein facts or truths are derived from empirical investigations or experiments based on scientific method.
Unlike scientists of other disciplines, particle physicists perceive their work through mathematical equations, charts, models and various computer generated data sets. Whilst this method of communication is useful for those in the know, the message would be lost on anyone outside of this particular realm.

Appreciating this fact and the overwhelming drive to be able to visualise all this information Chuck and Edyta realised the potential of the theories and experiments of Fermilab to be communicated through contemporary conceptual art.

Bellow are some of my favourite pieces from the Hard Science Exhibit.

Distilled Expressions

Using a polarised light, an optical microscope and an attached camera, BevShots sheds light on your favourite brew like never before.

Cocktails, Beers and other concoctions come to life with a unique set of colours and patterns with the uniquely developed method of microscopy available only at BevShots.

To date, BevShots remains unique in both science and art.

Piña Colada Copyright Michael W. Davidson and Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc

Our Universe, The Elegant Fractal?

For as long as we’ve looked up into the sky and marvelled at the beauty and elegance of nature, there has been an unrelenting urge to understand its very essence.

The philosophical notion that natures secrets lay in the patterns of nature and numbers gained momentum in the early modern period as mathematics, science, art and religion grew strongly. The Golden ratio was highly recognised as a leading contender because of it's mystical like properties, it's abundance in nature and it's perceived mathematical beauty.

A 21st Century Approach to Marquetry

Wall Piece | River | Copyright Theo Kamecke

Beauty in engineering is often a result of function or purpose, but it can also be deliberate as an aid to readability and maintainability.

Circuit boards are a great example. Look at any circuit board and you'll see groups of components and connections. Often the connections will flow from one, to another or around components creating a mirror, rotational or other symmetrical image.

On their own they can be quite beautiful, but wouldn't it be great if the beauty was more accessible, spelt out to us who are not so in tune with the symmetries of nature?

Introducing Theo Kamecke.