We cannot entirely divide our perceptual senses from our sense of reason. But in the past century in particular, the schism between art and science has been forced upon us by specialization. Science has stopped being the preserve of gentleman hobbyists or polymath intellectuals who could straddle this divide. It is hard to find today a true artist–scientist like Leonardo da Vinci, as noted for his science and engineering skills as his Mona Lisa and Last Supper. There is just too much to know.
This culture gap has, perhaps, never been so extreme. But in the past decade there has been an increasing awareness on the part of some artists of the heritage of scientists and vice versa. This supplement is intended to reflect, and place in context, some of this awareness. Many research funding agencies now provide for ‘sci–art’ projects or artists-in-residence programmes. The Institute of Contemporary Art in London has even taken a unique stance by having a scientist-in-residence. But some artists and scientists have found each other outside these formal channels, and our contributors fall within this category.
