Lingyan 舲雁

Visit to Mark Fairnington's Studio

1st Dec. 2016

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Mark Fairnington is a good example of an artist who has identified specific research interests (collections, museums, natural history etc) and has sought out opportunities that allow him to develop and exhibit his work. He has worked with collections and institutions such as the Wellcome Trust, Natural History Museum, the Horniman and Imperial War Museum. There are also funding opportunites that can be exploited such as the Wellcome Trust who fund projects and collaborations between art and science/medicine.

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In Mark's studio, I can feel lots of details of a true artist, his attitude to art, his skill, his method, and his life in creation. It is quite close to know what is the artist working and living. What's more, Mark is such a successful artist who find a unique research between the art and the science. Sometimes I think Mark make the art work in a very scientific method. I also can imagine how Mark paints as if a scientist does an experiment in the lab. I really told Mark my feeling, but he did not make straight forward yes-or-no reply.

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I did not understand how the art meets the science until the visit to Mark's studio. Serious, scientific, and rigorous methodology is necessary for the true artist with long lasting vitality.