MICROCOSMOS
06/03/07
During January & February 2007 I worked at the School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at the University of Surrey filming for an innovative project combining science and art, 60 DAYS OF GOODBYE POEMS OF OPHELIA. Funded by the Wellcome Trust, this multimedia art installation brings together a fine artist, a microbiologist, a musician, a sound engineer, and myself as specialist cameraman. The famous Pre-Raphaelite painting of Ophelia by Millais is recreated in coloured bacteria and using timelapse photography the image is seen to transform and decompose over a 60 day period, the time it takes bacteria to invade and colonise a human corpse. For information on the project, to be premiered later in 2007, see www.jowonder.co.uk .
During the filming of OPHELIA I also worked with microbiologist Dr.Simon Park to photograph digital still images of bacteria in extreme close up. The resulting images, set to music specially written by Milton Mermikides, Professor of Music Technology at the Royal College of Music, have been used to create a stunning audio visual installation MICROCOSMOS, showing during the Guildford Music Festival 6-23rd March 2007. Lewis Elton Gallery, University of Surrey.
