Science. E=mc^2? Fourier Transform? Michaelis Menten kinetics?
Too often people dissociate Art from Science and Technology almost as if it were a field only accessible to the white blouses, natural scientists and engineers. In fact what people tend to forget is that Art is a major driving force of advances in both Science and Social Sciences. Not only is it a mean of communication, education (figures, graphic designs) but it very much impacts how we understand and tackle modern problems. The emergence of biodesigns to promote sustainable fashion through the use of bacterial strains or adaptive building material reflect this. When exposed to the same environment daily, we often tend to forget what actually precisely constitutes it out of habitude. We tend to neglect our surroundings and forget to appreciate the beauty of entities. This sounds deep I know.
Although most (even Imperial students) are for many unaware of this, Imperial College has peppered pieces of Art all over the South Kensington campus that I would like to share with you.
- The Blyth Gallery – open to all 24/7
Neighbouring the music practice rooms in the Sherfield building is Imperial’s very own Art Gallery where different exhibitions take place and are accessible free of charge for everyone throughout the year. What better than appreciating original art pieces as the Jazz band is rehearsing next door? Its both a free concert, exhibition and a 100% break away from your studies.
Click this link to find out more:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/music-and-arts/visual-arts/blyth-gallery/
2. Innovative art – Chemistry takes over
At a departmental scale, most Imperial buildings have their very own interior designs and colours: the lime tripods in the library, the orange couches in the Sir Alexander Fleming building, the marble in the Royal School of Mines. A building however that particularly stands out to me in their efforts to align Science with Art is the Sir Ernst Chain building (Chemistry) where an array of creations are displayed as well as an interactive visual board.
Original pieces in the Sir Ernst Chain Building
3. Modern architecture to please the eye
Imperial students are truly extremely lucky to be able to study in a location which not only is a cultural melting pot but is also historically very rich. The waves of tourists which are eager to join the queue for the nearby museums (Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Science Museum) and the scars of the Blitzkrieg left on the museum walls (bomb shell marks post WWII) are I have to admit, quite a sight. Despite this environment, Imperial has managed to add its touch of modernity through the architecture of the gaudy and Rubikub like Faculty building found on Dolby court or the Bessemer building. It also has recently refurbished and reopened a new building for the Design engineers- Dyson building!
Bessemer building on Dolby court
