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Deborah Robinson Dr Deborah Robinson
Role Lecturer in Fine Art Co-ordinator ARC research group Originally having trained as a painter in the use of observational methods, I then moved toward making large scale paintings using processes of abstraction rooted in abstract Expressionism (i.e. unconscious as opposed rational/conscious decision making, and response to materials through the body/gesture). My aim was to create personal works that reflected inner states of being. Whilst studying on the Independent Masters program at University of Plymouth I became increasingly convinced that a kind of 'editing' occurred whilst I painted, causing me to filter out the 'feminine'. I subsequently began to look for strategies through which my subjectivity as a woman could be recovered during the act of painting which I conceived of as (in Judith Butler's sense) perfomative. The attempt to do this became the basis of PhD research entitled The Materiality of Text and Body: An Investigation Though Painting and Darkroom Processes, completed in 2003. From 2004 onwards I developed a strong interest in making work based on a direct engagement with science. This work has been developed through rich collaborative processes involving scientists and technologists in the creation of experimental sound and video installations. In all projects the exploration of science evolves around methodological contrast in the respective disciplines of science and art. Earlier projects investigated laboratories as spaces where scientific knowledge is produced, and the centrality the observer/observed relationship. More recent work has involved the manifestation of data as sound and image. Generally my work has been in the area of the life sciences and explores issues arising from research at both genetic and biological level. I currently have an Arts Council England award to support 'Malaria Triptych' a digital artwork made with researchers on the malaria programme at the Sanger Institute, Cambridge. I have a longterm collaboration with colleagues in the Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre at Plymouth University - artwork from this is currently exhibited in my solo show 'Transpositions' at Peninsula Arts Gallery. I am also working with scientists at the Institute of Biology, Leiden on a project that uses artistic response to explore biological categorisation and the use of specimens and models in theories of evolutionary development. Qualifications & background B.A. (Hons) Fine Art (1972) Post-Graduate Diploma Fine Art (1998) PhD "The Materiality of Body and Text: An Investigation through Painting and Darkroom Processes" (2003) Visiting Research Fellow at Egenis, University of Exeter. Professional membership Roles on external bodies Teaching interests Science/Art trans disciplinary practice Installation/video/sound/painting Poststructural theory Psychoanalytic theory/feminism Research interests UoP Research group membership Arts Research CollectiveCentre for Media, Art & Design Research (MADr) Other research Grants & contracts 2012 Awarded Arts Council England funding for 'Malaria Triptych' a collaboration with scientists researching malaria at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge. 2011 Awarded joint funding from the faculty of art and the faculty of science and technology, Plymouth University for "Transpositions". 2010 Awarded funding for "Atria" by faculty of science and technology, Plymouth University. 2009 - 2010 Grant from Arts Council England for "Fish-Eye-I" science/art project with Bioscience and Biochemistry, University of Bath. Additional support from the Institute of Interdisciplinary Art, Bath. 2009 Awarded funds from MPWIG as guest of Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin. 2006 Media Award Esme Fairbyrne foundation to develop film at Phoenix, Exeter. 2006 Awarded major Arts Council England funding as Egenis artist in residence, Exeter University. 2006: Awarded funding from the Institute of Contemporary Interdisciplinary Art (University of Bath) to produce a new body of photographic work. Creative practice & artistic projects
 2012 'Transpositions' solo exhibition and catalogue. Peninsula Arts Gallery, University of Plymouth. 2012 (ongoing) working with Professor Michael Richardson, developmental biologist, Institue of Biology, Leiden, to produce and artwork that explores biological categorisation, and the use of models and specimens in theories of evolutionary development. 2012 (ongoing) 'Malaria Triptych' a collaboration to produce an experimental digital artwork with scientist working on the malaria programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. Funded by Arts Council England. 2011 (ongoing) Artist in Residence with Marine Biology and Ecology Research group, University of Plymouth. 2010 Leading a collaboration to produce the video/sound artwork 'Data Unveiling' that explores the relationship between imagery and data that was derived from research into pigmentation mutations carried out at Dr Kelsh's laboratory, University of Bath. This work has been exhibited at the ESPCR (European Society for Pigment Cell Research) conference at the Sanger Institute, 2010, at the 'Immersion in Science Worlds' exhibition, Exeter, 2011, also in 'Transpositions' solo exhibition, 2012. 2010 ATRIA installation artwork made in collaboration with scientists in the Marine Biology and Ecology research group, technologists and artist David Strang. Produced for the Plymouth University Festival of Research, 20011. 2009- 2010 "Fish - Eye-I" an project using video and sound carried out whilst Artist in Residence with the department of Bioscience and Biochemistry,University of Bath supported curatorially by ICIA, and also Universityof Plymouth. 2009 Guest at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin. 2008 Supported by ICIA to pilot work in the department of Biosciences at University of Bath. My focus is embryonic research into fish. 2008 Images from the series Molecular Laboratory: Re-presentingTime exhibited at the National Theatre at a Biocentre symposium on ethics. 2007The Sanger Institute images were shown at the Phoenix Arts Center in anexhibition entitled Molecular Laboratory: Re-presenting Time. Thisexhibition included a gallery residency where I experimented withe theprojection of film onto liquids. The gallery residency was supported bya grant from the Esme Fairbyrne foundation. 2006:Funded by The Institute of Contemporary Interdisciplinary Art(University of Bath) to produce a series of 16 pinhole images thatcaptured the trace of human presence in the Washington SingerLaboratory. These were exhibited March- June 2006 at ICIA and are nowin the collection of the University of Bath. 2004:Artist in Residence Project with Egenis GenomeResearch Group, University of Exeter. This resulted in three lightboxworks exploring genetic codification and imagery. These are currentlydisplayed at Egenis, Byrne House, University of Exeter. . Publications Reports & invited lectures 2007 Attended 'Meeting of Experts' at Leiden University, Amsterdam to plan an application for a laboratory where artists, scientists and ethicists jointly carry out research. 2009 Seminar on art work in progress presented at Egenis, genome research group based at Exeter University 2010 In discussion with Dr Richard Hooley at ICIA reception for "Fish - Eye - I" Conferences organised
2000-2001 Co-organiser of Littoral, a collaboration between British and German artists 2007
March, co-organiser “Perceptions”
Science/Art Symposium, Gallery Terracina, Exeter (ESRC funded). 2008 June, co-organiser “Exploring Consciousness: Research Through Practice symposium”, Peninsula Arts, University of Plymouth 2008
March, co-organiser “Convex/Concave” Symposium, Gallery Terracina, Exeter (ESRC
funded) 2009 May, co-organiser Animal Gaze Symposium, Peninsula Arts, University of Plymouth
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