HIDDEN KINGDOMS SHIFTING WORLDS: Exhibition

Hidden Kingdoms Shifting Worlds Exhibition: August–November 2022

Hidden Kingdoms Shifting Worlds Exhibition: August–November 2022
Art and science unite to explore the complexities of the unseen world in “Hidden Kingdoms, Shifting Worlds”, an exhibition of paintings and films by artist Derek Hill.

The project at the Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology (CBCB) at Newcastle University was initiated by artist Derek Hill, former director Professor Jeff Errington, FRS, Professor Colin Harwood, and Dr Richard Daniel.

A collection of paintings is available for viewing at the CBCB by appointment.

Exhibition reviews “Big & Small” and “When science & art collide”:

https://www.derekhill.co.uk/work/item/reviews-exhibitions/?cat=84

Scroll down to view images of the exhibition and collection of paintings, ‘Hidden Kingdoms Shifting Worlds’.

 

“Hidden Kingdoms Shifting Worlds” Exhibition foreword by Dr Davy Smith

Hill, along with Dr Richard Daniel, has produced a significant number of time-lapse imaging films in response to experiments with microbial reactions conducted in the labs of the CBCB. This collaboration has resulted in the creation of over 70 large-scale paintings, as well as numerous HD photographs, drawings, notebooks, and sketchbooks. The paintings currently on display exemplify this extensive body of work.

Hill’s curiosity about the microbial world was sparked by a life-threatening streptococcal infection in 1990. This experience profoundly influenced his artistic development and motivated him to consolidate his current practice alongside scientists. Throughout his career, collaboration has been central to Hill’s work. In addition to gallery exhibitions, he has actively sought to create opportunities for his work to be positioned outside mainstream art communities.

For 26 years, Hill served as the artistic lead at the Art Studio in Sunderland, a collaborative studio, exhibition space, and forum dedicated to individuals dealing with mental illness. His spirit of collaboration has continued during his residency at the CBCB, where he has worked alongside world-leading microbial scientists, conducting experiments and engaging in constructive debates.

Hill plans to further develop the collaborative nature of this project by hosting a series of public open days, both at the CBCB labs and at his studio. This initiative aims to extend the collaboration and culminate in a new programme of exhibitions.

For Hill, the studio functions much like a laboratory does for a scientist. It is an environment in which he undertakes a laborious, knowledgeable, yet sometimes unknown, journey of experimentation and discovery—a process guided by decades of experience in the complex interactions between materials. The materials selected by Hill involve a mixture of water- and solvent-based paints; more recently, new technology-based industrial paints have been incorporated into the work. Beyond these works, Hill’s use of non-traditional materials is extensive, including resins, cow dung, grit, and bitumen.

For Hill, the canvas serves as a dynamic space where separate elements are constructed and interact with one another. In this space, conflicting processes unfold before ultimately merging into both larger and smaller worlds. These worlds are delicate yet interconnected, reactive yet harmonious, and visceral yet dreamlike. The resulting artwork evokes images of post-industrial landscapes, aerial photography, and microscopic phenomena. The incorporation of found objects helps to ground the pieces, reconnecting the viewer with their physical, cultural, and everyday reality. This exhibition represents a significant shift for Hill, as placing the paintings on the floor allows viewers to observe from above, similar to how a scientist examines a petri dish under a microscope.

Dr Davy Smith (art reviewer)

“Hill’s work has provided a uniquely different perspective on the interaction between microorganisms. This has, in some ways, bridged the gap between our research into the complex interactions that occur at the molecular level in a cell or a specific strain, how they impact bacterial cell morphology and viability, and how they are visually altered in nature. Both of these aspects are well documented in the scientific literature but are not easily conveyed to the general public. As such, our collaboration with Hill is an ideal platform to develop public engagement in an area of biology that has significance to all aspects of life.”
Dr Richard Daniel, Senior Lecturer, CBCB  https://www.ncl.ac.uk/cbcb/staff/profile/richarddaniel.html#background

“I can’t speak highly enough of Derek and his passion and commitment to melding the contrasting approaches of art and science in the context of microbiology.” Science is often a highly regimented endeavour aimed at understanding the fundamental mechanisms of life. At the same time, Derek’s art relieves us of that rigid discipline and takes us into a world just as passionate but vivid and unfettered by the logical framework in which we scientists are normally trapped!”
Professor Jeff Errington, FRS (former Director of CBCB), ARC Australian Laureate Fellow, University of Sydney https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=31AFDW4AAAAJ&hl=en

Working with the CBCB, as in other projects, has enriched my painting experience by introducing me to new perspectives that challenge and shape my worldview. There is symmetry in aspects of life that are often overlooked, forbidden, or hidden, yet they provide valuable material for self-discovery and an understanding of the world around us. The collaboration between the labs and the studio has transformed the narrative of microbial investigation into reflections on the impact of contemporary living on our landscapes. The interplay of light and dark, along with the luminous, vibrant colours of green, yellow, blue, and red, has become an essential component of my paintings.

Derek Hill

A big thank you to Professor Jeff Errington, FRS; Professor Colin Harwood; Dr Richard Daniel; and all other CBCB staff and members for their ongoing support and friendship throughout our collaboration.

Thanks also to Dr Davy Smith for the foreword and to Newcastle University for their continued support.

Professor Colin Harwood: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/people/profile/colinharwood.html