A discussion on art and science at the Vienna Biocenter
On September 21, 2017, with participation of the Aksenov Family Foundation, the discussion “Art and Science: Bridging Two Cultures” as a part of the viennacontemporary fair took place at the Vienna Biocenter (CVBC). Konstantin Novoselov and Herwig Kempinger took parts in the dialogue.
Sir Konstantin Novoselov is a Russian and British physicist and Professor of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester. In 2010 his "pioneering experiments with the two-dimensional graphene material” with Andre Geim earned them the Nobel Prize in Physics. The scientist is also known for his interest in art. He practices Chinese traditional drawing and has been involved in several contemporary art projects.
Herwig Kempinger is the President of The Vienna Secession Association of Visual Artists, the oldest independent institution worldwide explicitly dedicated to contemporary art. Kempinger studied at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, where he was a lecturer for media art from 1984 to 1994. He is mainly known for his photographic abstractions and photorealistic paintings. Kempinger has won numerous awards in photography in Austria and the City of Vienna.
Novoselov and Kempinger addressed the relation between art and science. In particular, they talked about the factors that influence their work, such as curiosity, imagination, and willingness to continuously learn.
This discussion series was initiated by Josef Penninger, Scientific Director of IMBA and Dmitry Aksenov, Chairman of the Board of viennacontemporary. The series aimed at building bridges between the industries of art and science and attempted to define possibilities for collaboration between professionals of both fields.
