About the project:

Visual perceptual phenomena are central both in visual science and in visual arts. Visual scientists use perceptual phenomena to investigate the brain mechanisms serving perception. Visual artists use perceptual phenomena as aesthetic and conceptual tools in the creation of artworks.

Collaborations between artists and scientists are uncommon, yet there is a great deal of scope for fruitful interaction. The creative skills of visual artists can provide novel perceptual phenomena to drive new scientific research questions, as well as powerful demonstrations of scientific principles. Detailed scientific knowledge of brain processes can facilitate the creative process by which new artworks and demonstrations are produced.

The network brings together a small group drawn from the scientific and arts communities to develop collaborative projects leading to prototypes of new artworks, and pilot experiments exploring new scientific issues. The group share information using compatible hardware and software, and met at regular intervals during the period of the grant (Oct 2004 - Sept 2005).

Three specific projects were explored. Two originate from phenomena previously studied in the scientific community (biological motion and apparent motion), and one project originates from the artistic community (wave motion).