Following the traditional mindset of science fiction, OK Do’s Science Poems project explores the poetry and multi-sensorial aesthetics of science rather than its functionality and logic. This summer, on June 4–6, 2010, it brought together a group of designers and artists for an exhibition at 0fr gallery and bookstore. The weekend also saw the launch of the Science Poems book which explores the topic through images and texts by us and the people around us. The book and the exhibition are now travelling around the world – the latest Science Poems party took place in Helsinki on July 10 at Napa Gallery.
The Science Poems exhibition and book approach science from an artistic perspective, reflecting on psychological and philosophical thoughts without necessarily considering conventional constraints or scientific objectives. In our opinion, applying grids of interpretation, typical of the fields of art and design, to the field of science (and vice versa) can cast new light upon the content and lead to new insights. In the same vein, the exhibition and book aim to function as tools to see and understand or as tools to imagine and question.
Ranging from fashion exploring electromagnetic space to an audio piece derived from DNA base pairs, each piece in the Science Poems exhibition deals with a particular field of natural sciences: astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, physics or cross-disciplines. The participants are Anna Ahonen & Katariina Lamberg, graphic designers; Kaarle Hurtig & Simo Vassinen, photographer and writer; Martti Kalliala (Renaissance Man), sound artist; K.I. Kinnunen, fashion designer; Miska Knapek, media artist; and Nene Tsuboi, illustrator.
The book, designed by Åh, features discussions with Marc-Olivier Wahler of Palais de Tokyo as well as Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby from the Royal College of Art. It also includes articles about parallel universes, spiritual science or building an ecosystem at home, a talk with a philosopher, a science fiction short story as well as various other poetic writings and images about science by OK Do and friends.
The exhibition and book launched on June 4 in Paris, the home of Alphaville, a 1965 film by Jean-Luc Godard, which inspired us to start Science Poems in the first place. Paris is also the city of a recent artist residency and revisitation of the OK Do members.
Vernissage at 0fr on June 4, 2010.
Science Poems book at the 0fr bookshop.
Science Poems book. Photo courtesy of Paavo Lehtonen.
Science Poems book. Photo courtesy of Paavo Lehtonen.
Science Poems book. Photo courtesy of Paavo Lehtonen.
Science Poems book. Photo courtesy of Paavo Lehtonen.
Science Poems book. Photo courtesy of Paavo Lehtonen.
Science Poems book. Photo courtesy of Paavo Lehtonen.
Nathalie and Windtracing by Miska Knapek at the Science Poems exhibition at 0fr gallery.
People at the Science Poems exhibition at 0fr gallery.
Higgs Boson by Anna Ahonen and Katariina Lamberg at the Science Poems exhibition at 0fr gallery.
The book is available at the 0fr bookshop (20, rue Dupetit-Thouars), La Librairie du Palais de Tokyo (3, avenue du Président Wilson), Librairie Flammarion at the Centre Pompidou (place Georges Pompidou) and Yvon Lambert (108, rue Vieille-du-Temple) in Paris; AA Bookshop (36 Bedford Square), Koenig Books at the Serpentine Gallery (Kensington Gardens), Artwords Bookshop Hackney (20-22 Broadway Market) and b store (24a Savile Row) in London; Kiasma (Mannerheiminaukio 2) and Napa Gallery (Eerikinkatu 18) in Helsinki; do you read me?! (Auguststrasse 28), Pro qm (Almstadtstrasse 48-50) and Motto (Skalitzer Str. 68) in Berlin as well as NEW ACCIDENT (233-1 Jyouhoku) in Komatsu, Ishikawa. Order it online via Napa Books.