Secret Still

I know that I often have a strange mix of art and science posts throughout the week, even though I generally consider this an art/design site. That’s because I honestly can’t see the difference between the two. I love art and design because they allow me to see joy and beauty in the world, and I love science for the very same reason. Everything I learn, every new discovery I read about, just serves to make the world seem that much more beautiful and intricate. Did you know that bats create tiny vortexes on top of their wings? That was just discovered recently. I react to that in the same way that I react to the first Goya painting I ever saw in person. It makes me want to shout, because I don’t know what else would be a strong enough reaction to that kind of joy. I pretty much feel like shouting all the time.

The most amazing parts of my week are the moments when I find something that blurs the line of art and science in a way that everyone else can understand how I feel when I look at clouds. Recently I came across two such things, and I figured they warranted a nice long post to themselves.

The first is an image gallery on the website of Aqua Design Amano for Aqua Forest Aquarium (a Bay Area business that I’ll be visiting very soon). The images are all of simple, glass aquariums. The beauty comes from the design of the aquarium environment, an “amano” style. Each tank is designed to be a natural, aqueous environment for plants and animals. This is basically the aquarium version of bonzai. Each element, and there are never very many, is delicately placed with respect to its height, relation to other plants, and overall effect on the sense of perspective in the tank. Then fish are added, usually one species to maintain simplicity. The CO₂ levels are very carefully maintained, and the light sources are designed for maximum plant growth, as well as light for viewing the environment. The photos are great, but imagine seeing the tanks in person. Tell me that’s not art.

The second item I came across is the flickr page of Reciprocity. He creates the most amazing images using shaped and textured plastics. Each image is shot using a focused light beam aimed through the plastic object. The lens of the camera is removed and replaced with the object so that the light pattern is captured directly on 35mm film. The images change with the shapes, textures and colors of the plastic, and the colors and intensity of the light. Each image comes out looking like some multi-colored photo of microscopic organisms or maybe the smoke from some Lewis Carroll caterpillar. Refraction and reflection, spectra of light, texture, all scientific realms, but here their captured as beautiful images. Tell me that’s not art.

Every structure, every pattern, every tiny scientific fact that I encounter in the world adds depth to my life, and the way that I view the world. Art and science enrich everything around me to a degree that is indescribable. I hope I’ve managed to capture a small part of that here.