Aesthetic Science

A set of novel projects

Cladistics

Location /

Maastricht University

Role /

Project design and lead

Purpose/

Project period

Year /
2014

Team /

Sven Cleeves, Rachael Hall,
Oliver Tunnacliffe, Nina Troppmair, Mischa-Alexander Ansari,
Lexanne Keulemans, Jillian Loree, Janneke Mes,
Darja Stoeva

Bubbles

Polarised Light Microscope X Washing-up Liquid

BACKGROUND

Soap bubbles produce coloured fringes when exposed to white light when the thickness of the soap film is tantamount with the wavelengths of visible light. When light hits the surface of the soap film a complex interplay between diffraction and interference occurs due to the changes in refractive index between surfaces of the soap film, which results in the array of colours seen on the surface, present in the Fresnel effect.

METHOD

The images captured using a Leica ICC50 HD (with a focus of 10x/0.25 PH1) to view the bubbles in conjunction with the Leica Application Suite (v 2.1.0) software.

Microscopy

BACKGROUND

The images produced from this process are sensitive to functional structures, which coincidentally are visually remarkable. The opportunity to view and understand the details and their purposes makes for impressive images. The added influence of the bright light increases the vividness of the colours too.

METHOD

Using a Leica LAS v4.0 S6D002 Microscope set at a zoom of 0.63 - 4.0, positions and lighting were altered from both above and below the sample as to reduce the glare from the resin coatings. Some images were healed in Adobe Photoshop CS6 to cover up such glare spots.

Cladystics tree

Cladistics Tree X Mobile

BACKGROUND

The aim of this project was to build artistic models showing a physical representation of phylogenetic trees which illustrate the structural similarities and variations between genera. Cladistic trees have the potential to be stunning visual pieces when taking the normal concept and creating a tangible installation displaying the actual organisms.

METHOD

Five plant families were chosen for the project; Rutaceae (Citrus family), Apiaceae (Carrot family), Amaryllidaceae (Bulbous family, specifically the onion subfamily), Fabaceae (Legumes family) and Asteraceae (Sunflower family). The individual species of each family were sourced from local shops and markets. These were then taxonomically grouped using existing literature. In order to create the visual display, the collected samples had to be preserved in Epoxy resin (Poly-Pox THV 500, poxyhars mixed with Poly-Pox Harder 155). The main goal was to correctly demonstrate the locations and linkages of the species in each family.

OUTCOME

Visual demonstration of the phylogeny of different plant genera in a very visual manner should enable viewers to both enjoy the display and be intrigued by the analytic methods that are being used to research evolutionary relationships. By providing such information to the viewers, they have the opportunity to learn about cladistics and acknowledge the biological diversity around them.

This structure is exhibited in the Brightlands Campus from 2014 onwards.