Microscopy as a form of art

Abstract

Abstract Art and Science are usually considered fields of different perceptions and approaches with very little overlap, but when combined, sometimes something unusually beautiful and unexpected can arise. Currently, a major effort is being made to promote the interaction between artists and scientists as demonstrated by some of the most recent grant programmes by organizations such as the United Kingdom’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Occasionally, artists are approaching science with slightly different insights than those expected, but to date, there is a gap that is rarely violated despite the extraordinary ideas that may arise from such collaborations. There can be no doubt that Nature is the greatest inspiration for art and beauty. In many ways, science attempts to reveal the rules and the beauty of nature. Microscopy, as a technique in scientific research, plays a key role in revealing the beauty of nature, a trend that has led some to regard it as a form of art. But can this claim be justified? For the uninitiated, microscopy could provide a high-resolution image of nature’s creations, revealing at the same time its inherent beauty. The cells – human or non-human – form images of the same beauty as those represented in paintings. Preparations observed under the microscope contain a wealth of information. The aim of the researcher is to correlate the cellular structure with the functioning of the organism and ultimately with the miracle of life. The aesthetic quality of the images has led many scientists to stand in their artistic nature. But can we say that microscopy, which is essentially a way of acquiring and analyzing scientific data, is a form of art? If art is the creation of works by people of extraordinary talent, then microscopy might be an art form and a technique that seeks the functional disclosure of complex admirers of cellular structures. However, unlike music or painting, microscopy is certainly not a form of art, with the traditional concept of creativity. The question therefore arises as to whether the aesthetic nature of the images revealed by a microscope can be considered as art. This is a question that is the starting point of this article.