Bringing Art and Science Together:
My Willow Sculpture for the British Science Festival
What happens when willow sculpture meets scientific research? For me, it was an opportunity to explore how art can help people engage with ideas in a hands-on, visual and unexpected way.
I was delighted to contribute to the British Science Festival in Southampton, working in collaboration with the University of Southampton on a willow sculpture created to support public engagement with breast cancer research.
Creating a sculpture inspired by the human body
The project centred on a large willow sculpture, described as a mammary tree, providing a visual and tactile way for people to explore aspects of breast anatomy and research.
Working with willow gave me the opportunity to translate a scientific subject into a sculptural form. Rather than simply presenting information, the artwork offered a starting point for curiosity, conversation and participation.
An important part of the project was inviting members of the public to be able to engage and take part in developing the sculpture. Visitors added pom-poms and wooden spheres, representing lobules, to the willow structure.
These contributions allowed people to interact directly with a wider conversation about the current research rather than simply viewing it from a distance.
I’m interested in how materials, form and participation can change the way we encounter a subject. Here, the willow structure was a vital tool, becoming a shared point of engagement between art, scientific research and the public.
Mamary tree when first made, and in action
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