CURATOR’S NOTE

For this Exhibition, the curator has a major task in designing, planning, and shaping a textual space to promote the idea of collaborative knowledge through the process of invention and exploration by artists/scientists – seeking new possibilities to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation of ‘thinking culture’ to the next level.

Based on environmental sustainability and health…

It is an observation about the interconnectedness of the environment, biodiversity, and human health as a subject matter in creating an ArtScienceTM creative process.

The aim is to inspire people to see the beauty and fragility of nature and thus feel a deeper sense of responsibility towards the environment. In this regard, the convergence of art and science can help create a dialogue between people about environmental issues and encourage them to become active participants in creating a healthier planet. This exhibition addresses the root cause of scientific and sociocultural environmental problems, including climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, and cultural disorder. This, in turn, will give a powerful sensation in raising awareness about the planet’s health and promotes positive changes in our relationship with the environment to create a more resilient and sustainable world.

The concept of planetary health as a process of these art-science creation is closely related to the human culture and condition because it involves our physical, emotional, and social well-being within the context of the environment. The quality of the environment, including air and water quality, availability of natural resources, and biodiversity can have significant impacts on human/animal health.

Contextually, based on the issue, the objective and challenge of this ArtScienceTM exhibition is to inspire …

…open-mindedness, curiosity, creativity, imagination, critical-thinking/ discourse and problem solving through research, analytical exploration, innovation, and collaboration

… in addressing the empirical and qualitative knowledge in setting a new object hypothesis of human mind and existence of tangibility.

How the subject and knowledge of art and science uses natural environment:

Coding and recoding the intangibility to a new colour of emotion and introduced the empirical expression of looking things that integrates synesthetic experience with analytical exploration. It is knowing, analysing, experiencing, interaction and feeling simultaneously. – (Synaesthesia is an anomalous blending of the senses in which the stimulation of one modality simultaneously produces sensation in a different modality. Synesthetes hear colours, feel sounds, and taste shapes)

Overall, with the rise of technology, the practice of art and science has the power to transform sociocultural environment in many ways:

Advanced technologies could lead to new forms of art and science that are completely immersive and interactive, allowing viewers to experience artwork through installation, virtual, artificial intelligence (AI), or augmented reality. This could create new opportunities for collaboration between artists, scientists, and engineers to extend and develop new ways of method as process of creation.

To conclude, the future of art and science is likely to be influenced by the ongoing development of technology and the continued evolution of cultural values and norms. As artists and scientists continue to explore the intersections between their fields, we may see exciting new developments and unexpected collaborations that transform the artistic and scientific landscapes of the future.

How they can change the issues of sociocultural environment in an interesting way as a new research creation and artistic production.

Nasir Baharuddin

In recognition of the amalgamation of art and science to forge a new synergy of creativity and innovation, ASM established the ASM ArtScienceTM Initiative in 2019. The mission and objective of this initiative is to nurture creativity at the convergence of art and science as well as to harness the art in the acculturation of science in Malaysia.

The ancient Nautilus Shell, which is a symbol of proportional perfection, has become the branding of the ASM ArtScienceTM Initiative. It is one of the most inspiring and energetic forms known to humankind. The yellow colour of the shell symbolises sunshine and its association to joy, happiness, intellect, and energy. It produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness, and is said to stimulate mental activity and generate muscle energy.

The ASM ArtScience™ Initiative, playing the role of the Thought Leader in the ArtScienceTM domain in Malaysia, will be the catalyst that would nurture creativity and acculturate science in the Malaysian society. This should galvanise new areas of interest and activities that combine the art and science, which in turn could support the four components of the Malaysian Creative Industry, namely art, media, creative services and design, and cultural heritage.

As a first step to achieve this goal, the ASM ArtScience™ Prize is organised to compel interest in ArtScienceTM amongst the public and as a call for action amongst those working at the interface between the art and science. This Prize was the first ever established in Malaysia in response to the emergence of the artist-scientist community.

The ArtScience™ Prize is also a unique competition as it focuses on projects and products that highlight the convergence of art and science. It encourages the pursuit of innovative art and design ideas at the cutting edge of science. Participation in the competition is open to all Malaysian; artists, ArtScienceTM practitioners, scientists, designers, etc. An exhibition is curated to showcase the works of the finalists of the Prize so that the ArtScienceTM concept underlying each work can be appreciated by people of all walks of life.