Cells (diptych)

Studio Orta - 1260.02
Studio Orta - 1260.01
Studio Orta - 1260

Date: 2014
Ref: 1260
Materials: Murano blown glass, perspex
Dimensions: 25h x 25 x 45cm each
Exhibition history: 2017 Galerie Valerie Bach, Brussels, Belgium; 2015 University Museum (Heidelberg University), Heidelberg, Germany; 2014 Federica Schiavo Gallery, Rome, Italy; Lethaby Gallery (Central Saint Martins), London, UK
Courtesy: Lucy + Jorge Orta

The body of work "Cells" by Lucy + Jorge Orta resulted from an ongoing dialogue with eminent mitosis scientist Tony Hyman and the Hyman Lab, at the Max Plank Institute of Mollecular Biology.

In the lab, the artists observed the molecular mechanism of the cytoskeletal modification during the mitosis. Back in their studio, they explored cellular communication, transformation and division, taking special interest in chromosome mis-sequencing, which leads to highly complex three-dimensional structures. As a result, the artists created a collection of watercolours and hand-blown glass sculptures under the title Cells Diptych, which offer a singular interpreation of the different stages of mitosis and meiosis. The delicate polychromatic glass cells, visible through the lens of a vitrine, have been made in collaboration with glass maestros at Berengo Studio in Murano.

Cells Diptych were first presented in Lens on Life, an exhibition curated by Professor Marina Wallace, which maps dialogues between artists and scientists who portray, each in their own unique way, the fundamental mechanism of human life: mitosis.  To view the process on video: Meeting of Minds.