Smallpox, HIV and an 'Untitled Future Mutation'

Glass Microbiology

These transparent glass sculptures were created to contemplate the global impact of each disease and to consider how the artificial colouring of scientific imagery affects our understanding of phenomena. Jerram is exploring the tension between the artworks' beauty, what they represent and their impact on humanity.

The question of pseudo-colouring in biomedicine and its use for science communicative purposes, is a vast and complex subject. If some images are coloured for scientific purposes, and others altered simply for aesthetic reasons, how can a viewer tell the difference? How many people believe viruses are brightly coloured? Are there any colour conventions and what kind of ‘presence’ do pseudocoloured images have that ‘naturally’ coloured specimens don’t? See these examples of HIV imagery. How does the choice of different colours affect their reception?

In response to these questions, Jerram has created a series of transparent, three dimensional sculptures. Photographs of these artworks are being distributed to act as alternative representations of each virus. Ironically in 2007 photographer David Sayer won an award from the Institute of Medical Imaging for the artificially coloured image he took of Jerrams HIV sculpture.

The sculptures were designed in consultation with virologists from the University of Bristol using a combination of different scientific photographs and models. They were made in collaboration with glassblowers Kim George, Brian Jones and Norman Veitch.

Jerram said,
"It's great to be exploring the edges of scientific understanding and visualisation of a virus. Scientists aren't able to answer many of the questions I ask them, such as how the RNA is exactly fitted within the Capsid? At the moment, camera technology can't answer these questions either. I'm also pushing the boundaries of glassblowing. Some of my designs simply can't be created in glass. Some are simply too fragile and gravity would cause them to collapse under their own weight. So there's a very careful balancing act that needs to take place, between exploring current scientific knowledge and the limitations of glassblowing techniques." ...........Read longer interview with Jerram

HIV

Editions of this work are on display in The Wellcome Collection, London and Bristol City Museum. Dimensions - 8cm diameter. A further edition was auctioned for the HIV/Aids Charity AVERT, raising money for victims in South Africa. 

A letter from a stranger received Sept '09.......

Dear Luke,
I just saw a photo of your glass sculpture of HIV.
I can't stop looking at it. Knowing that millions of those guys are in me, and will be a part of me for the rest of my life. Your sculpture, even as a photo, has made HIV much more real for me than any photo or illustration I've ever seen. It's a very odd feeling seeing my enemy, and the eventual likely cause of my death, and finding it so beautiful.
Thankyou.

A Sense of Scale

The sculptures are approximately 1million times larger than the actual viruses. This great slide bar animation shows how small they are.

Publications and Press Coverage

Seed Magazine. Read
Wired Magazine Read
The Lancet Journal of Infectious Diseases  Volume 9, Issue 11, Page 668. (See Pdf)
British Medical Journal Vol 339, Page 792 (See Pdf)
Slide shows in The Guardian,  The Telegraph,  BBC news.
BBC World Service Radio programme - The Strand. Listen
Science Magazine Vol 326, Issue 5951 
The Scientist. Read
The Independent Newspaper. Read
The Wellcome Trust. Read Q&A

Exhibitions and Sales

On loan from the Wellcome Collection, The Mori Museum in Tokyo are currently exhibiting Jerram's Swine Flu Sculpture in a show called Medicine and Art, with works from Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, Marc Quinn and Leonardo da Vinci.

The Courtauld Institute, London are exhibiting Jerram's glassworks in January 2010. 

A great success, The Smithfield Gallery in London was the first to present all of Jerram's glass virus sculptures, photographs and videos in a commercial exhibition. Works were sold to museums and private collections around the world.  

Send an email to admin@lukejerram.com for a price list and enquiries about purchasing Jerram's limited edition glassworks.

Smallpox

During the 20th Century, it is estimated that Smallpox was responsible for 300–500 million deaths. The virus has killed more people than any other disease in human history. An amazing scientific success, Smallpox was completely wiped out in the 1970s through a programme of global vaccination. Only two samples of the virus remain in existence, stored in high security labs of the USA and in Russia. The US Institute of Medicine, who are researching potential clinical uses for the controversial last remaining samples of living Smallpox, are using Jerram’s photographs for the cover of their report.

With commemorations around the world, 2010 sees the 30th anniversary of the global eradication of the disease.