The Institute of Unnecessary Research

News

"MRSA/MSSA Quilt making" at the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre Open Day

As part of the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre Open Day, Modernising Medical Microbiology artist in residence Anna Dumitriu will be running a 'drop in' MRSA/MSSA (Methicillin resistant and susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteria) quilt making session. Participants will be able to create quilt squares using natural and clinical antibiotics on Chromogenic agar and then the squares will be (remotely) inoculated with the bacteria and the results will be posted on the Modernising Medical Microbiology website here: http://www.modmedmicro.ac.uk/art and also used to create a new artwork which will be exhibited at Anna Dumitriu's forthcoming show at St John's College Barn Gallery in Oxford in May. Learn about new developments and technologies in microbiology and have the opportunity to ask her and her colleagues all the questions you've always wondered about bacteria in a relaxed and creative atmosphere. At the Biomedical Research Centre, Churchill Hospital. Oxford, UK on Wednesday 14th March 2012.

Trust Me I’m an Artist: Towards an Ethics of Art/Science Collaboration

This series of public events, taking place in international settings, investigates the new ethical issues arising from art and science collaboration and consider the roles and responsibilities of the artists, scientists and institutions involved.

At each event (before a live audience) an internationally known artist will propose an artwork to a specially formed ethics committee (following the rules and procedures typical for the host country), the ethics committee will then debate the proposal and come to a decision, the artist will then be informed of the ethics committee’s decision and, alongside the audience, they can enter into a discussion about the result.

The proposals have been selected as they raise interesting questions for science ethics committees and will help reveal the mechanisms that drive this usually hidden process, enabling the wider public to understand the driving forces behind ethical decisions and the role of artists working in scientific settings more deeply.

The project “Trust Me I’m an Artist: Towards an Ethics of Art/Science Collaboration” is led by artist Anna Dumitriu in collaboration with Professor Bobbie Farsides (Chair of Ethics, Brighton and Sussex Medical School) in collaboration with the Waag Society and The University of Leiden.

Event 1: With Adam Zaretsky on Saturday 10th December 2011, 3-6pm at the Waag Society, Amsterdam, Holland.

Event 2: With Neal White on Friday 27th January 2012, 7-9:30pm at The Arts Catalyst, 50-54 Clerkenwell Road, London, UK, EC1M 5PS

Event 3: With Anna Dumitriu on Thursday 1st March 2012, 6-8pm at The Science Gallery, The Naughton Institute, Pearse Street, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Eire.

Event 4: With Art Orienté Objet on Thursday 31st May 2012, 6-8pm at ENS, Paris, France - further details to follow

About the IUR

Einstein said: “If we knew what it was we were doing it wouldn’t be called research, would it?”

“The Institute of Unnecessary Research” presents a new paradigm in the way artists are engaging with the world through transdisciplinary practice and connective aesthetics. Bringing together art, science and philosophy by creating participatory audience experiences, performances and installations. Sometimes humorous and sometimes grotesque, their work pushes the boundaries and critically questions the means of knowledge production in the 21st Century.

Artists are innovators, if a new piece of technology or a new medium, becomes available; artists want to try it, to experiment with it- from microbiology to robotics; from tissue culture to neuroscience. Some artists take on the role of a scientist in almost a performative way and some scientists become artists themselves. Philosophy and ethics is always at its core and the work unpacks the instrumentalization of science for commercial and political ends.

Forms of “connective aesthetics” are used to engage the audience in a participatory experience that extends and generates new outcomes throughout the exhibition and go beyond simple interactivity, throwing authorship into question, as members of the audience are inspired to become Unnecessary Researchers in their own rights.

The IUR is a hub for researchers and artists working experimentally and deeply engaged with their specific research areas. We present our research through performative and experiential methods, engaging the public and new audiences in our ideas.

We organise performance events (many of which can be seen here) in art galleries and other non-traditional settings (including: universities, businesses and festivals) to engage the public in our research and meta-research. We also create participatory workshops, where participants become the researchers and learn about our work experientially.

We are specialists in our specific research fields and deeply committed to making our work accessible. We offer talks and organise symposia and are able to suggest speakers for events.

To organise a special IUR event, get involved with our work, be kept informed about events or for permission to use images please contact us.

List of Members

Anna Dumitriu - Director

Simon Hall - Anatomy

Inman Harvey - Artificial Life

Melissa Grant and Oliver De Peyer - Astrobiology

Luciana Haill - Augmented States of Consciousness

Theresa Sundt - Colour

Ian Grant - Contemplation

Anthony Hall - Cross Species Communication

Matthew Waldman - Cryptozoology

Lucy McCabe - Culinary Arts