The periodic table usually contains a mass of information about each element, but rarely gives a sense of its colour. That’s all changed thanks to an imaginative collaboration between Chemistry and Fine Arts students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).
This fusion of science and art stemmed from the two disciplines sharing space in the Spruce building at the university’s Surrey campus. The chemistry students researched the colour of each individual element as a molecule and the arts students used those colours to create abstract compositions.
“This is a wonderful example of KPU’s polytechnic spirit,” says Elizabeth Worobec, dean of the Faculty of Science. “Fine Arts meets Chemistry in a student art installation celebrating the Year of the Periodic Table.”
“It’s exciting to see the collaborative efforts between departments to create such a cross-disciplinary piece of artwork,” says Diane Purvey, Dean of the Faculty of Arts. “This is a fantastic example of the creativity and skill both Chemistry and Fine Arts students share”.
The finished artwork goes on display in the Spruce Gallery, KPU Surrey, tomorrow (June 12) at 4 p.m. The work will be on display until August 30, 2019.
“We are very proud of the success of this project, and the willingness and enthusiasm of the students in researching and marking the artwork,” adds arts instructor Amy Huestis.