Unfolding Project - Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Unfolding: Installation at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard 2011-12

Text for the entrance to the main Broad building (7CC) glass atrium niche

Artist-in-residence Guhapriya Ranganathan explores the concept of "unfolding" in its various forms: as life unfolds, as the genome unfolds to interact and give instruction, and as scientific discovery unfolds at the Broad Institute, through the collaborative work of researchers.

In Unfolding, Ranganathan uses the concept of the Hilbert curve (a mathematical analysis of a continuous fractal space-filling curve) to create her work. She starts with simple bold lines on 120 small square panels - like a collection of animation movie stills – and plays with infinite possibilities of the curve as it unfolds.

She then paints more complex structures, building layers of lines to represent the layers of complexity at the Broad. The end result is a synthesis of highly energetic large-scale paintings.

Unfolding spans four Broad buildings and includes drawings, paintings, prints, mixed media artworks, wood blocks, a dynamic video installation, and suspended wire sculpture.

This exhibit is part of the Broad Institute’s ongoing efforts to explore the intersection of art and science. Ranganathan worked closely with a number of Broad scientists during her tenure here, in particular with Erez Lieberman Aiden, Catherine Luce, Dawn Thompson, and Sarah Calvo.