Glass microbiology

This body of glass work has been developed since 2004. Made to contemplate the global impact of each disease, the artworks are created as alternative representations of viruses to the artificially coloured imagery we receive through the media. In fact, viruses have no colour as they are smaller than the wavelength of light. By extracting the colour from the imagery and creating jewel like beautiful sculptures in glass, a complex tension has arisen between the artworks’ beauty and what they represent.

The sculptures (Figures 1-3) are designed in consultation with virologists from the University of Bristol, using a combination of different scientific photographs and models. They are made in collaboration with glassblowers Kim George, Brian Jones and Norman Veitch.

Figure 1 Swine flu.

Figure 2 E. coli.

Figure 3 HIV.

Acknowledgements

Disclosure: The author declares no conflict of interest.