The Science
Using origami, Leanne constructs geometric shapes found within a virus structure and then unfolds them, creating prints based on the crease patterns of the paper. This transcends dimensions, moving from three into two evoking the idea mathematical nets used to build a form back into three dimensions.
This work is inspired by the geometric shapes found within a virus. The virus shell is constructed in the shape of an icosahedron – a Platonic Solid - which virologists can use to pinpoint genetic materials within it and study how the material moves into the cell. These shapes are symmetrical, allowing the virus to fit as much genetic material as possible into a small space.
This print may be part of a future series, comparing the structures found in different types of viruses. It is small, 10.5 x 14.8 cm and attempts to reflect the scale of a virus, which can be 20 nanometers in size. A metal plate was used to etch the pattern onto the surface, allowing ink to be pushed into the grooves. Paper was laid on top of the plate and put through a press using pressure to transfer the ink into the paper. The result shows the process in a visual way, but can also be explored through tactile means, with small bumps describing the image.
This print can let a viewer ‘touch’ a virus as well as look at it, something that may not have been possible without specialised equipment.
The Artist
Leanne Glass is a printmaker and photographer exploring the relationships between the micro and macro worlds. She is currently focusing on how geometry can help understand the internal workings of a virus and how these can be used in creating anti-viral therapies.
Her work uses materials as metaphors, allowing an audience to interact with it on a tactile level, giving the opportunity to explore them both physically and emotionally.
Copyright statement. This work is published under the CC BY-NC-SA license