Biochemistry Art Programme

Salt Bridges

Oxford University's Department of Biochemistry has commissioned a new building to provide state-of-the-art research facilities and an outstanding host environment for visiting researchers, students and the public. The new building designed by Hawkins\Brown Architects is located in the University's Science Area in central Oxford and is adjacent to the Pitt Rivers Museum to the south and University Parks to the north.

The Department is working in partnership with consultant artist Nicky Hirst, Hawkins\Brown, Ruskin School of Drawing & Fine Art and Artpoint on a programme of contemporary art commissions for the new building with the following aims:

To create an outstanding contemporary art collection within a world-class scientific research department
To facilitate inter-disciplinary discourse and opportunities for artists and scientists to extend their practice and experiment
To involve artists in the intellectual life of the Department
To provide new approaches and resources for public engagement with both the arts and science

Salt Bridges is a phrase Nicky Hirst encountered during her initial research period in the Department. In protein chemistry it refers to ion pairs, a form of strong interaction between oppositely charged residues. As a title for the art programme Salt Bridges refers literally to a fragment of biochemistry research and metaphorically to the dynamic relationships it is supporting between artists and scientists.

$Image: Digital rendering of Biochemistry building by Hawkins\Brown$

Digital rendering of Biochemistry building by Hawkins\Brown