This acrylite plexiglas etching created by Heather Richards is installed in BU's Photonics Center. It portrays and Aequorea Victoria jellyfish, which is the organism from which the GFP (green fluorescent protein) genetic sequence was derived. This sequence was later spliced into other cells which marked the beginning of the field modern genetic engineering that we know today.
The way that she was able to so accurately mimic not only the basic shape of the jellyfish but also the randomness of the tentacles is what really made it as ethereal and beautiful as it is. In terms of location, its placement in that short stretch of dark hallway was well chosen because it takes advantage of something that would've otherwise been considered a flaw in the design of the building and it adds an element of interest to an otherwise plain wall.
What I admire most about this is the amount of thought that had to go into the conception and creation of this piece. The choice of the Aequorea Victoria jellyfish reflects the artist's knowledge of the important scientific breakthroughs of the time which allowed her to make a relevant installment for the specific purpose of the building she wanted it put in. Additionally, she was able to find a symbolic representation of the discovery which I feel made the piece more effective and interesting; if she had just done a literal transcription of the basics of GFP protein and genetic engineering then the piece would've just become another technical poster. In choosing the jellyfish as a symbolic representation she made the installment accessible and enjoyable to people who understand the scientific significance well as to people who simply admire the beauty of the piece.
As an engineer I am also very impressed by the way that she harnessed the inherent properties of her chosen material in a way that made it seem like acrylite plexiglas was designed for exactly this purpose.
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