For three months, the artists Maximilian Prüfer (Germany) and Julia Carrillo (Mexico) became part of the scientific world of ISTA. They visited various laboratories and research areas and gained deep insights into the work of the scientists. Their final exhibition shows a selection of artworks that emerged from these encounters – fascinating narratives that range from nanofabricated “insects” to delicate prints of starlight spectra.
“The best thing about the residency is meeting all these incredibly fascinating people from all departments and disciplines.”
Wissenschaft ist ein grundsätzlich kreativer Prozess, – genauso wie Kunst oft analytisch, experimentell und neugierig ist. The ISTA Artist Residency brings artists and scientists together to spark new ideas. Über mehrere Monate hinweg besuchen die Künstler:innen Labore, arbeiten mit Forschenden zusammen und entwickeln kreative Arbeiten, die von wissenschaftlichen Entdeckungen inspiriert sind. Durch Vorträge, Atelierbesuche und Ausstellungen teilen sie ihre Arbeit mit der Öffentlichkeit.
Even if art and science use different approaches and methods, they often deal with similar questions:
Fascinated by nature and its complex movements, Maximilian Prüfer focuses on insects and their interaction with the environment. During his residency, he adapted his experimental printing technique Naturantypie to the laboratory environment. Traces of ants become visible on a specially coated paper. In the ISTA’s nanofabrication lab, he worked with new fabrication methods, researched organic materials that could serve as motors for tiny, insect-like sculptures and built tiny, kinetic sculptures inspired by the movement of insects.
During her time at ISTA, Julia Carrillo collaborated with astrophysicists and earth scientists to explore how we observe and document celestial bodies. Her works experiment with light, space and perception and are inspired by astrophysics. Through her prints of stellar spectra, she makes something intangible tangible and communicates science while opening up new perspectives on the universe.
