Art Meets Science at GIANT’s New Exhibition Launched in Bobby’s Bournemouth on Friday 27th October

GIANT, the UK’s largest artist-run gallery space outside of London, hosted an opening reception for its latest exhibition on Friday 27th October on the second floor of Bobby’s in Bournemouth town centre.

Open to the public until 20th January 2024, GIANT is presenting SEISMIC: ART MEETS SCIENCE in collaboration with SEISMA Magazine, a group exhibition that draws on a broad scope of scientific themes to explore the numerous links between science and the arts.

Curated by Paul Carey-Kent, the SEISMIC: ART MEETS SCIENCE exhibition will host ten artists, all presenting different variations of work inspired by or connected to specific scientific ideas, in an intriguing and dynamic exhibition that comprises painting, photography, film, sculpture and installation. The exhibition presents a diverse collection of mediums, styles and aesthetics, bringing to light fresh angles from which to approach the work, and prompting surprising, often fascinating questions.

Verity Slade, the Gallery Manager at GIANT commented: ‘We’re delighted to be opening our doors and welcoming visitors and local art enthusiasts to this unique exhibition in our beautiful space here at Bobby’s. The pieces of artwork do not set out to explain the science but instead engage with scientific issues and build on from scientific concerns, it really will be a thought-provoking display.’

Bringing original perspectives to sit alongside historical art understandings, the exhibition is unique in its inclusion of not one form of commentary, but two. In relation to each piece of work, curator Carey-Kent’s art world viewpoint can be read alongside an informative text by a relevant scientific expert. The scientists set out the nature of the science in a manner which is not only explanatory and interesting, but also engaging and understandable for viewers of all backgrounds.

In addition, cosmologist Pippa Cole comments on Shuster + Moseley’s sculptural installation; remote sensing scientist Andrew Fleming explores Troika’s film and painting; astrophysicist Tom Kitching writes about Lisa Pettibone’s installation; and Peter Matthews’ paintings are considered by oceanographer Dale Stokes. Uli Ap’s film installation and performance is explored by computer scientist Eva Cetinić, Edward Burtynsky’s photographs by geologist Graham Shields and Claire Morgan’s sculptural work by entomologist Ross Piper.

Astrophysicist Professor Bill Chaplin comments on David Rickard’s new installation, which delves into the phenomenon of cosmic rays; biomedical scientist Dr Caroline Pellet-Many explains what lies behind Elpida HadziVasileva’s sculptural use of guts; and Machine Learning Designer George Simms explores what 0rphan Drift’s consideration of the octopus tells us about artificial intelligence.

Verity added: ‘GIANT is always aiming to showcase emerging talents alongside some of the world’s most established names and all our exhibitions to date have remained true to its promise to be accessible, entertaining, exciting, challenging and open, bringing some of the world’s greatest contemporary artists to Bournemouth for the first time. We’ve even given some of London’s most loved institutions a run for their money with the amount of visitors we’ve had!’

Doors to the exhibition will open to the public on Saturday 28th of October until the 20th of January showing from Monday to Saturday, 11am - 5.30pm on the second floor of the historic Bobby’s building in the heart of Bournemouth town centre.

For more information on the GIANT gallery, please visit: https://www.giant.space/