Ideas-matter-sphere hosted public cross-disciplinary discussion events between 2011 and 2015.
Co-founded by artists Caroline Lambard and Elizabeth Murton, it was created as a meeting place for people to share ideas and developments which connect across disciplines. The events paired artists with practitioners from different disciplines, presenting connections between their work as a starting point for wider discussions between the audience and speakers. Connections included the perception of space and time, looked at from the perspectives of a robotic scientist’s research on navigation systems and an artist making drawings of urban landscapes; or sensing hidden patterns beneath an artist’s overall practice and a structural designer’s data and buildings. The discussions were informal and creative, chaired by Adrian Holme, Sheena Calvert, and Mat Clum.
The home venue for events was the Devereux pub, off the Strand in London. This turned out to be an auspicious choice for cross-disciplinary discussions as the building had been used as a famous Grecian Coffee House until around 1842, and was frequented by Sir Isaac Newton and Dr Halley along with poets, playwrights and politicians (credit, Caroline Dale Art Consultants and English Heritage from a plaque onsite).
In 2013 the discussions were taken to APT Gallery, Deptford, London, so that the material works could bring a physical presence to the events. ‘A Matter of Substance’ exhibition looked at materiality from the viewpoints of art, science and philosophy. The exhibition featured artworks, a physicist’s working sketchbook, 3d-printed crystal structures and an app for visitors to make their own crystal structures, along with the public workshop and discussion events. Details are in the archive events page below.
The final discussion event was held in December 2015 and the concept was then taken forward by Mat Clum through Tickbird & Rhino.
