Staff

Jim Pattison
D.A., Post Dip., Dip. Ed.

Lecturer

Tel: 01382 385313
Email: j.pattison@dundee.ac.uk
429, Level 3, Crawford Building,
DJCAD 13 Perth Road DD1 4HT

Biography

Limit of 250 words. Describe background, and research work. My practice led research, for the past ten years, has investigated ways in which information; data and personal experience can be translated, and made sense of, in visual terms. In Translations (http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/About/Publications/Documents/Social) I produced a series of visual responses to the personal experiences of renal failure, dialysis and kidney transplantation. The translation of information from medical condition into medical terminology, the communication and subsequent processing and ordering of this information is complex, and moves through various forms. This project explored ways of translating these linguistic transfers and shifts of information into alternative visual conclusions.

In Connections, (http://www.jimpattisonconnections.co.uk) in collaboration with neuroscientist Professor Brian Robertson, I created a series of two and three-dimensional digital and autographic visualisations of potassium ion channels important in brain function. The challenges here were to harness the use of new and existing technologies and approaches within both our subject areas, through discussion, collaboration, and awareness of historical context, in order to create alternative images that might be understood more easily.

A current collaborative project with Professor Murdo MacDonald - Material Evidence, A Study of Ten Carved Stone Balls From The Islands of Scotland, continues, extends and develops my interest in the recording, translation, manipulation and visualisation of information and data using a range of digital and autographic processes. This project will generate a series of visual responses from data gathered from ten examples of Carved Stone Balls and aims contribute to the often-limited information available about these objects, as well as raising awareness of these remarkable forms.

Research Projects

DUNDNA (CI)

(with Dr Paul Harrison) Dates 2011-2012 Collaborators Professor Angus Lamont, Christine Miller Funder – Application to Wellcome Trust for £30,000 A series of creative and integrated collaborations between scientists, artists and community groups in Dundee.

Material Evidence, A Study of Ten Carved Stone Balls from the Islands of Scotland.

(PI) Dates 2010-13 Collaborators – Professor Murdo MacDonald Funder – Application to AHRC for £54,000 Carved Stone Balls are among the earliest examples of art in Scotland. In addition they are almost unique to Scotland. They have a major national and international importance but are still insufficiently recognized by artists and the general public. This project sets out to draw greater attention to, and add to existing knowledge about, specific examples of these highly significant cultural artefacts by the creation of new artwork, a series of exhibitions, a dedicated website and a publication.

Connections. (PI)

Dates 2007-09 Collaborators – Professor Brian Robertson Funder - Wellcome Trust, £30,000 A Wellcome Trust People Award funded this collaborative research project with Neuroscientist Professor Brian Robertson from Leeds University.

Websites

http://jimpattisonconnections.co.uk

www.ahrc.ac.uk/About/Publications/Documents/Social%20Impact%20Exhibitions%20Web.pdf

http://www.gpsart.co.uk/site_pages/exhib_pages_08/merge/merge_08.html

http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk/532/s17.htm