His work is a lot more thoughtful', says Bonaventura, who believes that Wallinger's work is so important that it may go on extended display at the Museum. Only the initiated will understand', explains Wallinger, adding that some of the Museum's exhibits are equally puzzling to the uninitiated. He also wanted something that would appeal to children, the Museum's most important visitors. Wallinger's work is only part of the scheme run by The Laboratory, set up by Bonaventura in 1994 to promote this kind of interaction between artists and the University, with a particular emphasis on the interface between art and science. Science tends to monopolise the term', says Bonaventura, 'such that people have a problem thinking about research in domains like the visual arts.
Some artists simply use their biographies to generate work.
The Year of the Artist has turned out to be one of Bonaventura's most productive in this respect. We were in a very good position to bring artists and scientists together, because that's what we've always done', he says. While Wallinger has been studying taxonomy at the University Museum, other artists have been combing the collections at the Museum of the History of Science and studying the work carried out at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology. The results of their research at the interface of art and science go on display at the respective institutions from 11 October. The collaboration at the School of Pathology began after William James and his colleauges decided to set aside a sum of money to buy art for the School's new Edward Abraham Building, which opened earlier this year.