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Vol. 28 No. 2
March-April 2006

From the Editor

image of Fabienne MeyersJust a few tantalizing words were enough to catch my attention. In a conference report published in CI in January 2005, Prof. Heinz Gamsjäger wrote that participants of the 11th International Symposium on Solubility Phenomena (ISSP) enjoyed an art exhibit called “Solubility: Art and Science” at the University of Aveiro in Portugal. The exhibit featured the works of invited artists, art teachers, and postgraduate students from the university, and was held simultaneously during the conference in July 2004. What a tease, I thought, to mention the exhibit without showing any of the works of art. I immediately contacted the conference organizers and asked them how we could use CI to expand the reach of the exhibit to all IUPAC members. After all, bridging the worlds of art and science seems possible,and more so for a conference series whose motto is “Similia similibus solvuntur” (“Like dissolves like”). I was quickly rewarded by my inquiry and received the exhibit catalogue and a CD presenting various pieces exhibited in Aveiro. At first glance, I was convinced that one way or another, this fascinating exhibit should be shared with you, and this issue has finally come. See pages 4-8.

The exhibit showed various painting techniques and different approaches to working with soluble materials. “Like dissolves like” is probably one of the most important and basic rules of chemistry that painters have to learn.Perhaps more than scientific insight, artists’ intuition leads them to work with and apply that rule,and the results presented to us are simply delightful to enjoy.

In addition to reproducing a few original pieces displayed at the exhibit, authors Maria Clara F. Magalhães (professor at the Department of Chemistry and organizer of the 11th ISSP) and Rosa Maria Oliveira (professor at the Department of Communication and Art and coordinator of the exhibit) present reflections on what art and chemistry have in common. They also discuss mutual sources of inspiration in creating new art forms and other innovations.

As Prof. Oliveira wrote in the catalogue introduction, “Throughout history there are few moments when artists and scientists have worked together; however, there are many points where they converge in their creativity.” If conferences could more regularly be the occasion for such convergence, they could facilitate interaction and foster communication between scientists and artists, thereby sparking creative minds in both worlds.

 

Fabienne Meyers
[email protected]
www.iupac.org/publications/ci


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