READ THE
PASSAGE AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW.
The exhibition entitled 'Images of Nature'
focuses on the marriage of science and art,
two disciplines that we tend to separate
today. Despite this, it manages to emphasise
the importance of the combination of
the two. There is a clear sense of how
accurate drawing and imaging has aided
in scientific observation, interpretation,
and communication. However, the items
on display are largely historical and there
is no evidence of development of imaging
techniques used for scientific analysis. In
the distant past, scientists will have sketched
their specimens and perhaps analysed
these images when away from the object.
Nowadays they will have a host of ways to
preserve the specimen and be able to analyse
them using advanced scientific techniques
and instruments.
There are two exhibits that were particularly
strong when it comes to conveying the
importance of scientific imaging. There is
an image of a dodo, an extinct bird that
we know little about today. This image
shows that sometimes, artistic flair can
lead to inaccurate scientific interpretation.
Yet this does not detract from the fact
that, had the original images not been
drawn, we would know even less about
the dodo. The cartography exhibit, shows
the first geological survey of England. It
is important to remember that accurate
mapping is in fact very modern and is still
under development. Today we rely on maps
and location accuracy, but it has not always
been possible to access this information with
ease. Looking at an old and inaccurate map
can make people understand the advances
that have been made and get an idea of how
difficult they may have been to achieve.
The exhibition feels more like an art gallery
than many of the other, more interactive
exhibitions with high fact density. This is a
good thing as it adds an element of diversity
to the museum as a whole. The exhibition
is highly visually appealing and accentuates
how science can be artistic and how art
can be useful in science. It may however
benefit from a greater element of scientific
description applied to some of the images.
In short, this exhibition is quite a contrast
to other at the museum, both in style and
content. There are videos that do allow for
further exploration of the exhibits for those
that are more interested and able to spend
the time watching them. The videos also
offer insight into the life of researchers at the
museum which makes the scientific studies
they are doing feel more accessible. The
audience is able to associate the science with
individuals, which is another contemporary
and attractive aspect of the exhibition. There
are fewer interactive elements and buttons
to press than in other parts of the museum,
yet the drawing exhibit is highly innovative
and very in keeping with the exhibition
ambience. Here, people have been asked
to draw their favourite part of the exhibit
and the audiences pictures on display show
that people of many ages had been inspired
to draw their own images of nature. For
the curator, this deftly marries audience
participation and a focus on detail that is
remarkably simple and in many cases, has
led to repeat visits so patrons can see their
own work displayed.
The real skill of the curators of the space is
that fact that they have turned a complex,
detailed historical genre into something that
is easy to understand and approachable to all
ages. This is something that runs through the
core belief of the organisation and I think
they have managed rather deftly navigate
the pitfalls thus creating an astonishingly
clear view of the topic.
Choose the best title or heading for the passage.
A Contemporary exhibition spaces
B Professionally Picturing Nature
C Graphical Science Today
D Europe's new wave of art