Art and science: an enlightened approach

This was an illustrated talk that accompanied The Art & Science of Exploration 1768-80, an exhibition at The Queen's House—part of the Royal Museums Greenwich—in 2014-15. O'Riley's contribution was based around his various artworks made in response to scientific research and installations including CERN and various astronomical observatories around the world. The premise is that the realms of art and science share many traits, driven as by curiosity and a desire to explore. The relationship between the two worlds has been perhaps obscured by perceptions of science as involving objective and verifiable standards, or by perceptions of art as involving issues of subjectivity or the role of expression. The reality is obviously more nuanced. Artists have taken rich inspiration from the worlds of science often using what they find to contribute to the records involved in scientific exploration. The fluid movement between notions of action, active exploration, reflection, research, and mental journeying; the role of curiosity, serendipity, and the unanticipated or unexpected, seem central to both art and science. The artist, Emma Smith, was a co-presenter