Monday, April 7, 2014

Cellular Landscape

The cellular landscape we have developed from the images collected through the AFM. 

Texturing the dying cancer cell mesh in blender.

A close up image of a dying cancer cell reaching out to another cell close-by. This image was developed through gwyddion which is the software that processes the AFM data for visualisation. 

Raster Vector Poly Point event at the Drawing Project, Dun Laoghaire

Recently I hosted a research dissemination event at the Drawing Project in Dun Laoghaire. Above is an image of the blurb for the event. 
'Romantic Cells' duratrans print on display at the event. 

Grainne and I at the event.



A visitor at the event using the oculus rift cellular landscape demo we developed for Raster Vector Poly Point. We developed a cellular landscape based on the AFM data gathered from scanning the surface of a dying cancer cell to create a cellular terrain that the user can jet pack across. 

Me introducing Sofie Loscher, UCD Science artist in residence.

Sofie introducing her work at the Drawing Project event.

Sofie discussing parallax and equilibrium at the event.

Eamonn Kennedy, bio nano imaging researcher at UCD, introducing his talk - 'A reductionists guide to Art and Science'.


Me speaking on my theoretical ideas behind my research project.

Illuminated duratrans prints of dying cancer cells.

My supervisor, John Buckley, using the demo of  the virtual immersive cancer cell landscape.

Gerard Fitzpatrick, an astrophysics researcher at UCD currently working on gamma ray research. Gerard did a talk on programming languages, his research in gamma ray astrophysics and procedural generation in video games.  

Illuminated duratrans prints. 

After the talks and cellular landscape demonstration we had a questions and answers session with the speakers and audience.

Me introducing the Q&A.

Eamonn answering a question asked by an audience member. 

Dr. Anna O'Faolain de Bhroithe, a ressearcher in very high energy astrophysics at UCD, contributing to the discussion on the issue of the institute of science versus the institute of the humanities. This discussion focused on the place of art within science. 

Gerard Fitzpatrick contributing to the discussion on fictive artistic elements within the publication of scientific research and the issues associated within the aspect of scientific publication. 


The Bio Nano Imaging Lab at UCD

The Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) on its stage on the optics table.

Eamonn Kennedy (my collaborator) explaining how the AFM works.

The AFM in action. This image taken from a monitor depicts the AFM tip in the process of scanning nano tubes. 

Eamonn uses a tweezers to pick up an AFM tip in order to attempt show us the sheer size of an actual tip.

Eamonn standing in the "equipment graveyard" of UCD engineering. 




View through a semi transparent lens attached to the optics table.

More optics equipment attached to the optics table as part of an experimental set-up. 


Mirror on the optics table. 

Eamonn wandering around the lab. 

Another microscopic stage.

The VLab - Virtual Reality Cave

Currently I am undertaking a Masters of research in visual arts practice at IADT Dun Laoghaire. The premise for my research Masters project has been to use the imaging data gathered using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to develop cellular landscapes and worlds. For this interdisciplinary research project we want to utilise the VLab as an experimental space for trying and testing the different cellular worlds we develop using the data gathered from an atomic force microscope. VLAB is a cube-shaped structure of 3X3X3 metres that allows in-depth 3D experiments and prototype developments. It is a real time interactive visualisation projection system governed by user position and movements. The projection system renders and synchs 3D stereo graphics, tracks users based on infra-red optical signals, programs 3D scenarios/worlds using python and plays ambionic sounds.



This is an image of a fellow Masters student at IADT using the VLab.