Over the past decade, Duke faculty have initiated a range of humanities labs that enable novel configurations of interdisciplinary inquiry, including the WiredLab, Microworlds Lab, Health Humanities Lab, From Slavery to Freedom Lab and more. While interdisciplinary, these initiatives have had limited engagement with the natural sciences. Rarely in these labs do the arts, humanities and sciences engage each other at the level of practice – the artist studio, seminar table and lab bench.

Building on the work of the 2022-2023 project team, this team established the framework for an interdisciplinary laboratory space for artists at Duke and expand the repertoire of practiced-based research methods in the Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies to include the media and techniques from the biological and natural sciences. 

Through a two-semester series of courses, team members explored different models of science-inflected art practices while participating in laboratory work. In the fall, team members were introduced to historical, ethical and social descriptions of experimental practice from within science studies; learned lab techniques (e.g., microscopy, dissection, immunostaining, keeping a lab notebook); and studied artwork that incorporates media, instruments and practices from the life sciences. 

In the spring, team members developed individual and group lab projects for exhibition and hosted visiting artists for studio critiques and workshops. Through these projects, the team examined frameworks for mobilizing artistic inquiry and creative expression within scientific research practices.

Timing

Summer 2023 – Spring 2024

Team Outputs

Website

BioArt curriculum and accompanying lab practices

Database of international artists and labs working at intersection of art and science

Exhibition of student and faculty artwork

Laboratory Art in Practice (Interactive display presented at the Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 17, 2024)

Laboratory Art in Practice (Exhibition presented at French Family Science Center, April 28, 2024)

See earlier related team, Laboratory Art in Practice: Building a Model for the Art/Science Lab at Duke (2022-2023).

Image: As part of a unique collaboration between the Duke Children’s Hospital and the Duke Innovation Co-Lab, 3D printed hearts from patients’ CT scans help cardiac surgeons visualize and plan a surgery to correct heart defects, by Jared Lazarus/Duke University