15 August 2013

Science Fiction lands at the Canberra Contempory Art Space

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Monster

Erica Seccombe is using the ANU’s 3D Microcomputed X-ray Tomography (XCT) unit to get some stunning and otherworldly images of everyone’s favorite backyard crustacean, the slater.

Erica’s work will be shown at her exhibition Science Fiction, opening this week at Canberra Contempory Arts Space.

The image data from the XCT was run through a computer program developed by Limaye. Meaning insight in Sanskrit, Drishti is a non-invasive technology used to reveal the internal structures of new materials, fossils and organs without destroying them.

“Drishti is amazing,” says Seccombe. “It allowed us to explore the slater virtually. You can go through the layers – through skin, fat, muscle and bone – virtually dissecting the bug, exploring it in a million different ways. We’ve looked at this slater a thousand times, yet with a few adjustments, we are still seeing parts of the slater we have never seen before.”

The result of this cross-disciplinary collaboration is a collection of striking images, forcing you to take a second look at the humble slater. ”It’s about seeing things you had no idea were even there.”

“It’s been such an experience working on this project,” says Seccombe. “Tim and Ajay are open to other ideas and are so flexible in their thinking – there are no square pegs in round holes over here. Scientists are creative people, so we have a natural affinity.

“It’s great to come to the other side of campus and collaborate with these amazing minds on something so beautiful.”

Science Fiction launches at 6pm on Friday 16 August and runs through to Saturday 28 September at the Canberra Contemporary Art Space. See more of Erica Seccombe’s work on her website.

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Looks just like a fossilised ammonite. Only pinker.

This is true science communication, without the embarrassing language of fandom that we read the other day.

I’m interested to read that slaters have bones, though. I thought the hard bit on the outside meant they didn’t develop bones.

I wonder – were any slaters harmed in the making of these pictures?

The Kangaroo-loons are presumably at a loose end and looking for something to picket…

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