Erica Seccombe

(Beautiful) Monster (2013), (SET 6) 3D stereoscopic projection with circular polarized glasses, circular polarized silver screen, 3.6 X 1.8 X 16MM.

Exhibited: 

• 2019, [set 2] Boundless Objects, Curated by Monika Bakke, Centro de Arte e Cultura, Evora, Portugal, October 12, 2019 - March 29, 2020

• 2013, Science Fiction, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Curated by David Broker, Supported by the Centenary of Canberra. 16 Aug – 16 Sep

Excerpt from exhibition catalogue:

Taking the common garden slater Porcellio scaber as her point of departure Erica Seccombe, in collaboration with Professor Tim Senden and Dr Ajay Limaye (ANU Department of Applied Mathematics and Vizlab), applied the notion of relativity to suggest that under magnification of the most extreme kind, this benign little creature takes on alien proportions. Using the latest technologies available to science, the ANU Department of Applied Mathematics has developed 3D Microcomputed X-ray Tomography (XCT) that enables scientists to see the material structure of an object as a virtual model. Seccombe has used the resulting volumetric data and digital visualisation processes to produce an exhibition of printed three-dimensional creatures and parts thereof, that are able to inspire fear and awe in an “alien” inspired nursery.  Blurring the borders of film and scientific data the exhibition also includes a 3-D cinematic screening of the amplified isopod so that it appears significantly larger than life. 
DAVID BROKER, CCAS 2013

credits

(Beautiful Monster) is the result of working with Professor Tim Senden and Dr Ajay Limaye, two extraordinary researchers at the ANU Department of Applied Mathematics and NCI National Computational Infrastructure. Also thanks to Stuart Ramsden and Drew Whitehouse at VizLab for their ongoing support and enthusiasm! 

The collaboration is ongoing but this body of work ‘Monster’ was commissioned by David Broker at Canberra Contemporary Art Space for the exhibition Science Fiction with Benjamin Forster, and supported by the Centenary of Canberra for National Science week.