Professor Andrew Parker’s art and science exhibition on display at Kew Gardens
A unique art and science exhibition created by Visiting Senior Research Fellow Professor Andrew Parker is on display at Kew Gardens in London.
The exhibition is called Naturally Brilliant Colour and it features a cutting-edge piece of technology called Pure Structural Colour, a new type of colour billed as the ‘boldest, brightest colour on Earth.’
Parker worked with scientific researchers at his Lifescaped lab to develop these stunning, jewel-like shades of colour, inspired by the dazzling colours we see in nature such as on the wings of a butterfly or hummingbird.
Plants and animals have microscopic structures in their surface layers which reflect sunlight in unique ways to create these vivid, unforgettable shades. Parker and Lifescaped have recreated these colours for the first time. Pure Structural Colour is an example of what’s known as bio inspiration – replicating structures found in nature for the benefit of human design.
‘Scientists have sought to reproduce the brightest, metallic-like colours of nature for decades,’ said Parker. ‘In Pure Structural Colour, this has been achieved on a large scale for the first time. It is something special to witness these colours as they emerge from our machines – the brightest colours ever seen. They will be revealed to the public for the very first time at this exhibition, in the form of artworks with a complementary natural theme.’
The exhibition explores what Pure Structural Colour is and delves into the history of colour perception and vision, while also displaying artworks created using Pure Structural Colour including the world’s first botanical artwork by Coral G Guest, who mixed flakes of Pure Structural Colour into paint.
Other items on display include a large-scale kaleidoscope containing glass created with Pure Structural Colour and accessories such as Nike Air Jordan 3 RTNA, to show how Pure Structural Colour could be used in fashion.
The colour is produced using only transparent materials which could have a huge impact on sustainability if it could replace pigments, many of which are sourced unethically or unsustainably.
Naturally Brilliant Colour runs at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art at Kew Gardens until 26 September 2021.
Further information on the Naturally Brilliant Colour exhibition.
A wonderful evening for the Green Templeton community in Sydney. It is always special to see alumni reconnecting and making new connections wherever they are in the world.
Thank you to Oceania Group and everyone who joined the group’s inaugural annual dinner.
The group’s next gathering takes place in Brisbane on Tuesday 8 September – another welcome opportunity for our alumni and friends in the region to connect.
A great start to what we hope will become a growing tradition for the college`s community across Oceania.
#GreenTempletonCollege #OxfordAlumni
#alumni
Alumni in Switzerland came together in Geneva on Swiss National Day for the first in-person gathering of our college`s Switzerland Alumni Group.
After the group’s inaugural online meeting earlier in the year, the gathering was a chance to finally put faces to names, reconnect over memories of Green Templeton and Oxford and hear where life has taken everyone since.
Conversation ranged from career paths and professional exchanges to life in Switzerland and ideas for the growing alumni group.
Josephine Agyeman-Duah (DPhil Women’s and Reproductive Health, 2018), Chair of the Alumni Group, said:
‘It was splendid to reconnect with GTC alumni from different periods and to celebrate Swiss National Day together in Geneva. Our first in-person gathering was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen connections and our GTC alumni community in Switzerland.’
The group is now looking to establish a committee and hopes to connect with other Oxford and Cambridge alumni groups in Switzerland.
#GreenTempletonCollege #OxfordAlumni #GTCAlumni #Oxford #Geneva #Switzerland
Happy International Cat Day! 🐾
It’s been quite the year for Vincent!
After several years of making the college his home, we are delighted to say that we have officially adopted him. A familiar and much-loved face around the college grounds, he has a special way of bringing smiles to everyone he meets.
We’re so proud to officially call him ours!
Happy International Cat Day, Vincent! 💚🐈⬛
✨ Come behind the scaffolding with us.
We were given rare access to the Radcliffe Observatory restoration project, climbing onto the roof to see the incredible conservation work taking place behind the scenes.
From spectacular views across Oxford to the Observatory`s intricate zodiac carvings, we discovered details that are normally hidden from view.
Join us as we explore one of Oxford`s most iconic landmarks!
Earlier this summer, we were delighted to welcome audiences to our inaugural Garden Play, with a series of sold-out performances of Shakespeare`s `As You Like It` set in our beautiful college grounds.
Our gardens became the Forest of Arden as students, staff, alumni and the wider Oxford community came together to enjoy open-air theatre in a truly unique setting. Even better, the production has received fantastic reviews from Oxford`s student press.
A huge thank you to everyone who performed in and supported this wonderful initiative.
