A landscape locked in perpetual twilight becomes illuminated by glowing trails evocative of mosquito flight paths. These spiralling forms represent packets of blood infected with Plasmodium knowlesi a malaria parasite recently found to jump the species barrier from monkey to human.
boredomresearch’s computer generated landscape is charged by the research of mathematical modeller, Dr Paddy Brock, who uses analysis tools from ecology and epidemiology to explore this zoonotic malaria in Malaysia.
Animating the infection left in the wake of wandering macaques as they search the island for food, AfterGlow reveals the intimate relationship between disease and its environment. As an autonomous camera explores the dark mountains, the viewer becomes immersed in a blizzard of infection. Composed of delicate, spiralling, cells of colour, these combine to form a vivid expression of this dangerous disease.
boredomresearch is a collaboration between Southampton UK based artists Vicky Isley and Paul Smith. The collective are internationally renown for creating software driven art which explores extended timeframes – projects includes generative objects, interactive online projects and installations. Based at the National Centre for Computer Animation at Bournemouth University UK their work benefits from a fine blend of art and science – allowing them to achieve works underpinned by a deep appreciation of the creative possibilities of technology and expertise in artificial life programming. They are greatly inspired by the diversity that exists in nature. Using computational technology they explore this diversity to simulate natural patterns, behaviours and intricate forms that gradually change over time.
boredomresearch’s artworks are in many internationally collections including the British Council and Borusan Contemporary Art Collection, Istanbul. Their artwork Ornamental Bug Garden 001 has been awarded honorary mentions in Transmediale.05, Berlin (2005) and VIDA 7.0 Art & Artificial Life International Competition, Madrid (2004).
Dr Paddy Brock trained as a field biologist with interests in animal behaviour, evolution and ecology. His current research, at the Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine at the University of Glasgow applies quantitative approaches to investigate disease transmission, particularly in multi-host systems that involve wildlife. For an ESEI-funded project on the zoonotic malaria Plasmodium knowlesi, he is working as part of a team integrating analysis tools from ecology and epidemiology. Previously, he used statistical and mechanistic models to assess transmission-blocking interventions for malaria and the dynamics of co-infection between HIV and HPV (human papillomavirus). Paddy maintains an interest in the study of immunity in an ecological context, and explored this and related issues in the Galapagos sea lion during his PhD. He continues to collaborate with the Galapagos National Park on ways to incorporate research findings into conservation management programmes.