‘Art, Science & Play’ provides a fascinating insight into the evolving practice of international artist Luke Jerram. Seen worldwide, the publication coincides with the homecoming of the universally engaging work Museum of the Moon displayed at London’s Natural History Museum from May 2019. Other well-known artworks featured include the playful; such as his much-loved world-wide street piano project Play Me, I’m Yours and the urban-waterslide Park and Slide, as well as those that explore our fascination with science; such as the beautifully rendered Glass Microbiology series of transparent sculptures. Drawing together Jerram’s extensive practice for the first time, the book includes the artist’s personal reflections on over thirty artworks and projects, providing a unique insight into the continual process of reinvention that inspires his ever-changing approach to art. Tied together through the three themes of art, science and play, it explores these overarching narratives that have emerged over time, finding new ways to connect his practice through the principles of people, perception and place. Featured artworks include the playful; such as his much-loved world-wide street piano project Play Me, I’m Yours and the urban-waterslide Park and Slide, as well as those that explore our fascination with science; such as the beautifully rendered Glass Microbiology series of transparent sculptures. The book takes a journey through Jerram’s imagination, touring the world with the help of engineers, composers, glassblowers, medieval musicologists and hot air balloonists, who have helped to realise both the personal and the public scale of his extraordinary work. Illustrated by over fifty colour photographs and two specially commissioned texts by Ken Arnold (Wellcome Collection) and Mark Ball (Manchester International Festival) the publication delves into the mind of an artist known for his imaginative ability to combine art, science and play, showing us that (in his own words) ‘anything is possible’.
