CMRC Opening Remarks

20 July 2023

It is my great honour to welcome you all to a viewing of this incredible exhibition that celebrates the launch of the Creative Microbiology Creative Colab (CMRC) founded by Prof Leora Farber, Director of the Visual Identities in Art and Design (VIAD) Research Centre from the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) and Prof Tobias Barnard, Director of the Water and Health Research Centre (WHRC) from the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The CMRC makes use of microbes – miniscule organisms such as bacteria, mycelium, and yeast – as media and content in art and design practices. This exhibition represents an extraordinary convergence of science, art, and imagination. It demonstrates how these tiny and seemingly inconspicuous beings often relegated to petri dishes in dark corners of labs can be used in new and innovative ways as they transcend their conventional roles and emerge as forms of artistic expression.

The American engineer and astronaut Mae Jemison once said, “Sciences provide an understanding of a universal experience, Arts are a universal understanding of a personal experience... they are both a part of us and a manifestation of the same thing... the arts and sciences are avatars of human creativity.” As we stand at the precipice of an era where art and science collide, this exhibition spurs us to embrace a journey of exploration and witness how interdisciplinary approaches blur the lines between traditional disciplines and transcend boundaries. The CMRC presents us with the opportunity to explore this intersection, interrogate innovative uses of biomaterials and engage with new and exciting forms of collaboration.

As Albert Einstein’s words remind us, “The greatest scientists are artists as well.” In the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) era, this certainly rings truer than ever. This is not merely an exhibition but rather a journey through time and culture, with microbes serving as our compelling tour guides and challenge the status quo at every tier. And in this realm, the smallest of things hold the greatest possibilities – this exhibition emerges as a message of triumph and hope.

Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg