SciArt Project: Sea Change - Converting Nature's Fluctuating Colour to the Painter's Palette

Conceived, initiated and led by the artist, this AHRC-funded Art & Science project hinged on a residency at the Natural History Museum, London (May - Dec 2007) and collaboration with Andrew Parker, the Museum's world-leading expert on animal vision and colouration - in particular iridescence.

In conjunction with the renowned scientist, Schenk continued to investigate the complex mechanisms associated with iridescent colour in animals. The aim being to fully convert the novel iridescent "pigments" - first employed in 'Mantel of Many Colours' - to the the painter's palette.

Although the intention had originally been to further pursue the marine theme, as the project progressed the artist became increasingly intrigued by butterflies - whose varied iridescent displays she began to simulate in paint. The hyper-real renderings of butterfly wings that resulted do indeed emulate the specimens' fluctuating colour.