Page 46 - Studio International - June 1967

CASSA

Fundamental research at the
Centre for Advanced Study of Science
in Art.

Marcello Salvadori

The relationship of the artist to science and tech-
nology has been under debate for a long time. The
interaction of nature and science can give a perfect
understanding of the world and, in time, its place
in our universe. Scientists and artists have been
well aware of this. To realize their full intuitive
range, however, they need a knowledge of both
fields. The use of new media and tools of expres-
sion involves deep study to make possible the
development of a new language of analogy. In
other words, our comprehension of the aesthetics
of painting and sculpture is insufficient to keep
pace with the tremendous impact of the new
materials discovered and produced by science and
industry today. The Centre is setting up teams
consisting of scientists, technologists and artists
precisely in order to arrive at a better understand-
ing of these discoveries.
These teams collect information relating to a pro-
ject and then develop the work in different stages,
at each stage discussing the creative and technical
problems. For example, the way the Centre pro-
gresses is evident in the work of the two groups now Recording and Studying Appropriate Forms (top)
engaged on projects: one is studying biological Experimental research for a vibrating fountain
systems; the other is using the results of this study Recording a Visual Language (reading left to right)
Symmetries in two-dimensional vibrating systems-the cycles
in connexion with artificial systems which exhibit
illustrated here range from 1,050 cycles per second to 4,050 cycles
self-organizing properties. Applied to the arts, this
per second.
approach will produce a more logical and precise
result which will narrow the gap between the Of the illustrations on this page Raymond Conner-Thomas (Centre
artist and today's environment. One of the chal- for Advanced Study for Science in Art) writes: 'Through my
lenges we face is in understanding materials from research I have begun to acknowledge the existence of a synthesis
between the science and the arts. My work consists of two separate
the beginning of their formation, their chemical
but interrelated parts. The first part considers not only the qualitative
composition, and the effect of the environment on
aspects of visual information in the physical world, but also the
their molecular structure. With the setting up of
quantitative and sometimes highly specialized modes of operation,
teams we assemble the various instruments and
e.g. in controlled laboratory conditions. The second part concerns
machinery needed for each project-for example, a
application of the research (in a coherent and intelligible form) to
laser and sound vibration equipment. Other mac- the environment.
hinery has already been installed, including a well- 'The work shown here is an example of the first part of my research
equipped microscope with television attachment in assimilating relevant qualitative data in the field of acoustic
which allows more than one person to follow the phenomena.'
work development by the team of biologists. The
Left
entire equipment has a variety of possible applica- The insignia of The Centre
tions. Not all the research is carried out at the
Facing page
Centre; some requires the collaboration of diff-
Marcello Salvadori describes this colour plate, Optical trace IV
erent academic institutions, as in the extensive use
(Research into structure of plastics), as follows:
of computer programming.
'The result of this research will be used for the side panelling of the
A number of projects are based on the develop-
Kinetic Building (project by E. Marx and M. Salvadori). The illustration
ment of theories which do not result in visual only gives an idea of the structure of the panels. They produce a
objects of any immediate purpose or application. sequence of rainbow colours that vary in intensity throughout the day,
The importance of these projects lies in their creat- and must be visualized as transparent.'
306