Molecules to Masterpieces: Bridging Materials Science and the Arts

Published

March 19, 2025

Author(s)

Ferdinand Kohle, Hiroaki Sai, William Tait, Peter Beaucage, Ethan Susca, R. Thedford, Ulrich Wiesner

Abstract

Art and materials innovation have always been intertwined, dating back to the earliest human creations. In modern times, however, the increasing specialization of materials science often restricts artists' access to cutting-edge materials. Here, the materials science aspects of an art-science collaboration between artist Kimsooja and the Wiesner Lab at Cornell University, are detailed. The project involves the development of a custom-made iridescent block copolymer coating by means of self-assembly, originally applied to transparent window panels of a façade for the ≈14 m tall art installation: A Needle Woman: Galaxy Is a Memory, Earth is a Souvenir by artist Kimsooja. After several exhibitions in the US and Europe, the installation is now part of the permanent museum collection at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield, UK. Full characterization of the solution blade-cast coatings show shear aligned, standing up lamellar morphologies that behave as volume-phase gratings with periodicities between 300 and 400 nm. Coatings are also applied to foldable (origami) paper and converted into iridescent porous ceramic materials. It is hoped this work inspires and informs communities across materials science, the arts, and architecture.

Citation

Advanced Materials

Volume

37

Issue

11

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202413939

Local Download

Citation

Kohle, F. , Sai, H. , Tait, W. , Beaucage, P. , Susca, E. , Thedford, R. and Wiesner, U. (2025), Molecules to Masterpieces: Bridging Materials Science and the Arts, Advanced Materials, [online], https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202413939, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=960478 (Accessed October 9, 2025)