‘The first beat’ (top right image) by Maciej Ciesla shows cells dividing and creating different cell types at an embryonic stage. ‘Neuroblastoma’ (lower right) from Sofie Mohlin is a cross-section of a developing embryo, with purple corresponding to a protein specific to a cell type present during organ development. ‘The Milky Way’ (left) from Sara Nolbrant is of astrocytes cultured in the laboratory.
Several new artworks are now on display at BMC. Can you tell us about the exhibition?
‘The invisible body - art in science’ exhibition was initiated by the Ragnar Söderberg Foundation in 2017. This shed light on the visual perspective of research, using the dialogue between art and science as a starting point for the distribution of cutting-edge medical research.
Lund University was represented by images from twelve research groups. The Ragnar Söderberg Foundation have generously donated the original works back to Lund University, where they are now on public display at the Faculty of Medicine.
How did you become involved?
Via the previous communications manager at the Ragnar Söderberg Foundation, Mona Norman, and our shared interest in research communication. Mona initiated the exhibition together with Sven-Harrys Art Museum in Stockholm. I was given the opportunity to contribute as scientific advisor and project coordinator from Lund University.
If we want to take an art tour of BMC where can we find the pictures?
The images are on display in the public spaces around the Faculty of Medicine, including outside the Segerfalk lecture theatre, BMC floor D15, the student centre in the I building and in several stairwells in BMC.
Do you have a personal favourite?
Actually I don’t. I think each picture invites you to join its own unique dialogue between art and science. Even though I have viewed the images many times, I continue to discover new elements each time.
As director of the Research School in Stem Cell Biology, I am incredibly proud that so many contributions from the Stem Cell Centre have been included in the exhibition. Spreading knowledge about stem cells in a visual and creative way is really exciting.
Mona Norman, former communications manager at the Ragnar Söderberg Foundation and driving force behind ‘The invisible body – art in science’, talks about the exhibition:
The Ragnar Söderberg Foundation created ‘The invisible body’ exhibition as a way to share information about ongoing medical research, using images as a starting point. Art and science go hand-in-hand; neither benefiting from a cursory glance. They are both instruments for discovering what is inside us, everything that cannot be seen with the naked eye – we need these images to be able to understand. The works have been donated to Lund University, returning to the research environment where passionate researchers once took the pictures obtain answers to important questions.