Artificial Natural

Heather Barnett
Cellular Wallpaper
Interior Narcissus Collection developed at Poole Hospital 2000

The boundaries between the artificial and the natural are becoming more and more difficult to distinguish. Our definitions of ‘Artificial’ and ‘Natural’ as concepts are therefore under construction. The concept of natural might have previously been thought of as something ‘organic’ or something ‘grown or produced in the countryside’, might now be thought of as something ‘based on’ or ‘influenced by’ nature.

This blurring of boundaries is not necessarily a negative thing; it conveys the constant evolution of concepts, ideas, conventions and language. So what will this constant evolution mean for design? Maybe Stelarc’s ‘Extra Ear’ will be standard and designers will be expected to experiment in the scientific to find new solutions to an evolved generation of problems.

Rather than researching into the newest scientifically innovative design project I decided to look into the blurring of natural and artificial boundaries in existing design projects. I came across the work of Heather Barnett, an artist working “at the intersections of art, science and education.” I found her ‘Cellular Wallpaper: Interior Narcissus” project particularly intriguing. Barnett designs wallpaper patterns by artificially enhancing the graphic design apparent in nature. The examples shown are “designs derived from human cellular microscopy.” The first example, Rosebud, is a magnified graphic of a cervical smear, and the second and third examples, Kaleidoscope and Peach Blossom are magnified blood samples. This subversion of intimate human cellular imagery through artificial means result in beautiful repeat patterns that are reminiscent of historical chintz designs. Although they are artificially enhanced the wallpapers convey nature’s strength as a designer in its own right. Barnett’s work may not be a feat of technological genius but is thought provoking and gives an insight into the natural world that cannot be seen naturally by the human eye. Although the subject is natural, its representation can only be seen using artificial tools, for example a microscope. As Marshall McLuhan would agree, a microscope is the man made extension to the human eye, therefore it would be classified as artificial, without it however human perspective on the natural world would be restricted.

The natural world has always influenced fields such as art, design and science and will always be a rich source of inspiration, it is natural to look to the natural and our investigations are commonly led by or informed by the artificial. The relationship between the two can be harmonious or disastrous and rarely fails to be informative.

Ester Kneen

http://www.heatherbarnett.co.uk/cellularwallpaper.htm
Hanaor,C(2006)The cutting edge of Wallpaper.London:Black Dog Publishing