Chemistry Meets Art

The Periodic Table on Show is NOW LIVE!

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The Periodic Table on Show

In an exciting project that uses art to describe the most fundamental and important document used by chemists, Australian artists will join with chemists to produce a unique interpretation of each element of the 2010 IUPAC Periodic Table.

Chemists have prepared information on each element including its discovery, history, how it exists in nature and its modern day uses. This information was distributed to Australian artists who will prepare individual prints of each element interpreting this information.

All prints will be brought together at the end of the project to form a full Periodic Table. The project will result in a multi-disciplinary educational resource that brings art, history and modern science together, all linked by the elements.

The final Periodic Table will be made available for touring, photographed for posters, and become a unique web resource.

Tour dates and venues are yet to be confirmed. Keep up to date by visiting the Australian IYC2011 website.

Further Information

An important component of the International Year of Chemistry is connecting to the public and increasing awareness of the positive contributions chemical sciences make to everyday life. The International Year of Chemistry also aims to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the International Association of Chemical Sciences (the precursor to IUPAC). Of course, the most important tool available to chemists is the Periodic Table, which is overseen by IUPAC.

The aims of the project are:

• To deliver an engaging exhibition that brings chemistry, art and history together,
• To take the single most important chemical resource to the public by exhibiting artists’ interpretations of the Periodic Table elements,
• To develop an online educational resource for students and teachers, and
• To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the International Association of Chemical Sciences through exhibiting the 2010 IUPAC Periodic Table.

Chemistry professionals (known as sponsors in this project) have prepared background information to assist the artists in interpreting their part in the project. This outline of discovery, history and modern day uses of each element will aid in their choice of imagery.
The printmakers have varied experience; career printmakers, final year School of Art students and professionals in other areas who also have an art practice. They may use any recognised traditional forms of printmaking, including etching, relief printing, lithography, screen printing and digital printing.

The early results so far are exciting and bode well for an impressive periodic table available for exhibition or purchase.
In total, there are 79 element sponsors (chemistry professionals) involved in the project! These have ranged from individuals to companies and schools. Sponsors have come from all over Australia with even two from overseas. These sponsors have written 112 element descriptions that have been passed on to 38 artists.

The element information and artwork will also be made available as an educational resource via the RACI website. The project will be launched in Hobart on 5 August 2011. There will be three complete original Periodic Tables available for touring Australian and New Zealand. Currently there have been 13 venues expressing an interest in displaying the exhibition.

For more information on the Periodic Table on Show project email iyc2011@raci.org.au

Visit www.iyc2011.org.au to find out more about how you can get involved with events and activities for the International Year of Chemistry.

Don’t forget you can register your own events on the IYC Australia calendar here.