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Evening reception: Wednesday 27 September 5-8pm
‘Valence’ is an art/science collaboration and investigation between the Fine Art department and the Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research (WCMR) at Newcastle University. WCMR is a leading international research centre at Newcastle University Medical School that aims to transform the lives of patients with mitochondrial disease. Fine Art at Newcastle University, currently ranked top in the UK for art and design, is very actively engaged in cross disciplinary work between artists and people in other fields.
Mitochondria are the energy producing components of the cells of animals and plants and contain their own DNA. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA can cause an energy deficit causing mitochondrial disease that predominantly affects the brain, liver, muscle and heart causing symptoms such as epilepsy, stroke, and muscle weakness. The WCMR supports patients with mitochondrial disease and conducts pioneering research into the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the disease including development of new IVF techniques which may potentially prevent women affected by mitochondrial DNA disease passing the condition on to their children.
Valence is an artist residency programme with the WCMR research team involving six fine art students and WCMR staff who have been working with scientists and patients developing work that offers a range of insights into this vital body of research and how it is perceived and understood by scientists, patients and their families. The artists are: Beth Allsopp, Katerina Antoniou, Jed Buttress (undergraduate students), Jasmine Matthews, Callum Todd (who graduated this July), and Olivia Turner (PhD researcher).
The exhibition presents the first phase of this investigation for public examination and, through an interactive symposium, for discussion and response from patients, scientists, clinicians, artists and others working in the humanities. The outcomes of this will be published online and the exhibition will be further developed and toured as the residency progresses.
The exhibition is supported by:
Wellcome Trust
Newcastle Institute for Creative Arts Practice
Newcastle Humanities Research Institute
Vane was founded in 1997 in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. Vane opened a permanent gallery space in Newcastle city centre in 2005. In October 2011 Vane launched a gallery space on the first floor of Commercial Union House, 39 Pilgrim Street in the centre of Newcastle. Vane represents the work of a number of artists, both from across the UK and internationally, as well as showing the work of invited artists in collaboration with other galleries. The gallery directors are Paul Stone and Christopher Yeats. Vane is supported by Arts Council England.
For further information or images please contact:
Christopher Yeats, Programme Manager
tel: +44 (0)191 261 8281, email: info@vane.org.uk
First Floor, Commercial Union House, 39 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6QE.
