Approved: 16.08.2006

Rachael Nee

Artist

Approved: 16.08.2006

I'm drawn to that space between art and science, and particularly to physics: I call it the ‘Wonder’ science. I find many of it's concepts fascinating; energy, entropy, scale, time and matter. Physics covers the very structure of the universe, from the infinitesimally small, to the unimaginably huge.  

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Artist Statement

I'm drawn to that space between art and science, and particularly to physics: I call it the ‘Wonder’ science. I find many of it's concepts fascinating; energy, entropy, scale, time and matter. Physics covers the very structure of the universe, from the infinitesimally small, to the unimaginably huge.  

Into this I add a generous sprinkling of fiction, a dash of playfulness and a dollop of the Heath Robinsons. I aim to add the human. Working with people and teaching workshops are an important part of my practice.

Recent projects include a collaboration with University of Bristol Robotics Department. I researched Microbial Fuel Cells as a source of energy and making a tiny electronic synth powered by  mud battery.

Favourite previous projects include; 'Events' - A Geiger counter triggered by a diy analogue synthesizer. 'Potato Powered Cosmos’ an interactive installation at CERN (Large Hadron Collider). ‘Smutty Atoms’ -  an organ made from exhaust manifolds, based on a 17th century book on air pollution; and 'Assembly' - a range of useless electronic ‘products’ from a Heritage Lottery Funded residency where I researched women in electronics industry from conscription. 

CV & Education

RECENT SELECTED PROJECTS:

2023 

  • Pilot project animation for charity FFLAG,  interviewing family of LGBTQ+ and animating their experience.  

2022

  • Robotany - Collaboration with University of Bristol Robotics Dept and artist Katie Connor. My focus was researching and creating a musical instrument powered by microbes. 

2021

  • WECA Creative Freelancer Award - To develop a range of beginner art/electronic workshops and booklets.

2020      SUMMER FLOURISH, FOREST SCHOOL GARDEN, LONDON

·        Designed and illustrated a series of art/science activity pamphlets.

·        These facilitate self-directed outdoor activities for isolated families who were socially    distancing.   

·        Funded: ACAVA, 2 Blechynden St, London, W10 6RJ   

2019    SPECIALIST FACILITATOR – ‘MAXILLA MENS SHED,’ LONDON

·        Basic electronic workshop run by ACAVA for socially isolated men making a sign.

·        Funded: Maxilla Men's Shed, ACAVA Maxilla Studios, 4 Maxilla Walk, W10 6NQ  

2020-19     ‘FUMIFUGIUM ORCHESTRA’, LONDON.

·        Instigated and led project with the community to make a musical art installation informed by air pollution data collected by local families.

·        Funded: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea  

 2019     ‘FLASHES TO ASHES: FIRE IN BRITISH ART 1692-2019’ – CO-CURATOR,

            ROYAL WEST OF ENGLAND ACADEMY, QUEENS RD, BRISTOL, BS8 1PX.

·        Proposed and co-curated the major exhibition featuring, historical, modern and contemporary works on theme of Fire.

·        Funded: Arts Council

2019    ‘SMUTTY ATOMS’2019, ROYAL WEST OF ENGLAND ACADEMY, BRISTOL.

·        Audio-visual installation and event.  Funded: Arts Council England, Arts Grant Award

·        Ran family art workshops on theme of air pollution (collected Bristol data).

2018     ’ASSEMBLY: WOMEN AT WORK’ ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE, BUILDING BLOQS, LONDON.

·        Funded: Heritage Lottery Fund

o   12-week residency researching Women’s work in electronics manufacturing industry in Enfield, London.  

·        Residency placement in industrial manufacturing workshops.

o   Organised and hosted Panel discussion with academic, business and arts organisation participants.

o   Produced booklet of research findings distributed to public.  

o   Created exhibition of artworks related to research.  

o   Ran workshops for community, participants from non-art backgrounds.

2017-15      ‘ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE: POTATO POWERED COSMOS’ CERN, SWITZERLAND

       INVITED ARTIST FOR CERN’S, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS PROGRAMME

·        Collaborated with science teachers from around the world to re-create installation at CERN; engaging with visitors, students, scientists and engineers

·        Funded by CMS Experiment, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland    

·        Co-authored ‘Potato Powered Cosmos – A Construction Manual.’, ‘Sci-Art’ booklet for education and outreach department of art@CMS, CERN, Switzerland

·        2016 - Invited exhibitor at ‘Summer Exhibition’ art@CMS (2016)

·        2015 - UAL - Research award trip and subsequent exhibition in London.

2019 -17 ‘FLOURISH’ FAMILY ART WORKSHOPS, MAXILLA STUDIOS, LONDON        

·        Designed and delivered a series of art and science workshops for families affected by Grenfell Tower fire.

EDUCATION

2015                       MA Fine Art, UAL: Chelsea College of Arts (Distinction)        

1987                       BA (Hons) Ceramics, Bristol Polytechnic

 

GALLERY REPRESENTATION

 2021-2004   CUBE GALLERY, LONDON

 

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2018                        ASSEMBLY, The Dugdale Centre, London.

2017                         Potato Powered Cosmos, Installation, CERN, Switzerland

2014                         Carbon Based FormsPrema Arts Centre, Uley, Gloucs

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2020-02 inc.            Royal West of England Academy Autumn show, Bristol

2020                          CUT, BURN, FOLD, ­Cube Gallery, London.

2019                          Flashes to Ashes: Fire in British Art, 1692-2019, RWA, Bristol

2017-04 inc.            Affordable Art Fairs; New York, Singapore, Amsterdam, Los Angeles.

2017                          CONTEXT – New York USA

2016                          Ultimate Recipe for Cosmic Soup, Nehru Planetarium, Mumbai.

2016                          Summer Exhibition, art@CMS, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

2016                          Shifting Territories, Triangle Space, Chelsea College of Arts,                

2015                          ART BUSAN, Busan, Korea.

2013                         CONTEXT - Art Miami, Florida, USA

2011                         Art Chicago, Illinois, USA

2010/09                  London Art Fair, Islington, London

2009                          Drawing Room II - Royal West of England Academy, Bristol

2005                         The Jerwood Drawing Prize 2005 - London and tour.

 

SELECTED AWARDS

2020         UK Robotics Week 2020, one of the winners in ‘Environment Making Challenge’ with SERAS (Skills and Robotics for Autonomous systems)

2015          UAL: Chelsea School or Art, awarded CERN research trip with art@CMS.

2007           Elected Academician Royal West of England Academy, Bristol.

PUBLICATIONS

 2019          Flashes to Ashes: Fire in British Art, 1692 – 2019, Co-authored with Gemma Brace and Professor Christiana Payne, Samson & Company.

SELECTED OTHER EXPERIENCE

 2019         Post-/Human, Guest panel speaker, organised by Flux group, The Library, London

2014-11   Trustee – Royal West of England Academy

2014-13    Initiated and ran Royal West of England Academy and Kids Company collaboration.

2009         Presenter - ‘CUTTING EDGE: LASER CUTTING AND CREATIVITY’ Symposium, Loughborough University, Leicestershire.  

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS INCLUDING:

The Royal Collection Trust, Royal West of England Academy and fifteen works in Connaught Hotel, Mayfair, London.