This exhibition is inspired by our conversations about the integration of science and art and the increasing diversity on campus. We have found the opportunity to work with a progressively diverse student body more comparable to our experiences of the “real world”. Diversity is the reality of humankind.
The question then – what does it mean to be part of a community and can we maintain identity and culture and still be a member of a larger group? Using our respective backgrounds in chemistry and art we propose to not answer the question(s) but give a platform from which to see varying points of view.
First through various techniques of Separation:
- Filtration
- Extraction
- Chromatography
- Distillation
and Installation which uses sculptural materials and other media to modify the way we experience a particular space.
There are multiple levels from which to approach:
- Vegetable dye in water: various levels of integration as concentration changes.
- Distinct groups of specific concentrations: you are looking at it as individual segregated groups
As the viewer moves through the installation they are dealing with various levels of integration and different segregated groups. Of course there are advantages and disadvantages of groups; they may choose to stay separate out of ignorance, out of fear, and even self-preservation.
As a final point, one must deal with the difficulty of maintaining ones own cultural identity in society - to choose to integrate without loosing the ability to designate oneself. |
