The Art of Science

Supported by the Wellcome Trust, in partnership with Rich Pickings

The world of biomedical science is complex, fascinating and at times, beautiful. This programme of short films demonstrates the way filmmakers have explored these human and philosophical issues through a scientific lens, deftly combining knowledge, education and art.

Following the screening, weʼll be talking to two of the filmmakers who have made work, supported by the Wellcome Trust. Speakers include:

Carla MacKinnon (Rich Pickings),

Meroë Candy (Project Manager, Arts and Science at the Wellcome Trust),

Ellie Land (dir.The Centrefold Project)

and Maxx Ginnane (dir.Too Fast to be a Woman? The Story of Caster Semenya).

The Centrefold Project, dir. Ellie Land (9ʼ13”)

Combining personal stories with whimsical animation, The Centrefold Project tackles the increasing trend of labiaplasty surgery through patient testimonies. The film brings together clinicians from University College Hospital and a partnership from the Wellcome Trust to examine the medical aspects of the surgery, including detailed commentary on the burgeoning cosmetic procedure. Mixing together these two aspects of the intimate operation,

The Centrefold Project reveals the often unheard voice of women, and how this change has affected their bodies and minds.

Ex Memoria, prod. Mia Bays (15ʼ)

Ex Memoria comes face-to-face with the reality of dementia. Following a day in the life of Eva, a sufferer, the film challenges audiences to get behind the face of the disease. Inspired by half-forgotten memories, non-linear storytelling, and bold cinematic techniques, the film has become a mainstay introduction for dementia carers around the world, supported by research at the University of Bradford and in partnership with the Wellcome Trust.

Soft Materials, dir. Daria Martin (10ʼ50”)

Transcending physicality with graceful interaction, Soft Materials examines the relationship between body and mind by following robots at the University of Zurich who were designed with embodied artificial intelligence. The robots are programmed to learn sentience not from their minds, but from physical interactions with the world around them. Introducing two artists and their bodily movements, the film interprets how humans and machines can experience bodily pedagogy together.

An Eyeful of Sound, dir. Samantha Moore (10ʼ25”)

An Eyeful of Sound combines beautiful visuals with a superb soundtrack to illustrate the complex relationship between sound and imagery for those with audio-visual synaesthesia. Describing the evoked visual responses to music and noise, the subjects of this animated documentary expound on how notes translate in their mind, as visions dance across the screen. The project was a collaboration between a group of patients and Dr. Jamie Ward.

Primate Cinema: Baboons as Friends, dir. Rachel Mayeri (5ʼ33”

The high drama of jealously, love, and territorialism are all at play in Primate Cinema: Baboons as Friends, a twochannel video installation that compares high-stakes footage of baboon courtship and a re-enactment with human actors. Shot in the wilds of Kenya, the baboon footage is in collaboration with primatologist Deborah Forster who has extensively studied the cognitive sexual dynamics of the animals. The re-enacted footage, shot in a neo-noir style, highlights questions of anthropomorphism and primate relations depicted in mainstream cinema.

Tickets are £10.50, or join us for all screenings on Wednesday 21st November for just £15. Buy tickets by calling the Ritzy Box Office on 0871 902 5739 or online here.