Gemma Anderson

Gemma Anderson-Tempini (née Anderson; born 1981) is an Irish artist and honorary research fellow at the University of Exeter. Born in Belfast, N.Ireland, she holds a PhD in Drawing from the University of the Arts in London. Her work has been exhibited extensively in group and solo shows, and is held in the collections of major museums.
==Work approach==
Anderson-Tempini's interdisciplinary practice explores the intersection of art, science and philosophy. Her work reflects on topics like biological process, higher dimensional geometry, morphology and the relationships between humans and other species. Anderson's artistic approach involves a range of media, including drawing, publications, printmaking, sculpture, sound and installation.
One notable aspect of Gemma Anderson-Tempini's artistic practice is her focus on scientific research and collaboration. She often works closely with scientists and researchers, engaging in conversations and practical investigations that inform her artistic process. Through her collaborations, Anderson-Tempini aims to bridge the gap between art and science, creating works that aim to challenge conventional boundaries and foster interdisciplinary dialogue.
Her drawings traverse the realm of morphological variations in nature, exploring the evolution and connectivity of forms and structures and inviting reflection on the intricate relationships between organisms and their habitats.https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/gemma-anderson-take-drawing-seriously-mode-enquiry
Overall, Gemma Anderson-Tempini can be described as an artist who intertwines art, science, and philosophy, to explore enigmas and interconnectedness in the living world through an interdisciplinary methodology and collaborative ethos. Her contributions include two peer-reviewed books and several journal articles.
==Early Years and Education==
Gemma Anderson-Tempini graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2007 after earning a first class BA from Falmouth College of Art. Her desire to explore anatomy led her to attain a Certificate in Anatomy for Artists from University College London in 2006. She also earned an MA in Fine Arts Printmaking from the Royal College of Art. Her education continued through to a PhD in Drawing from the University of the Arts London, developing a methodological foundation for her interdisciplinary explorations.https://www.artnet.com/artists/gemma-anderson/biography
==Formative Years (2002–2012)==
Anderson-Tempini's early work integrated research, drawing and printmaking, focusing on botanical, geological and natural histories. Her artistry blended scientific rigor with creative imagination. She also explored psychiatric ideas, natural history and divinatory sciences. This formed a nexus between observational drawing and scientific understanding that laid the groundwork for later collaborative endeavors.
==Portraits: Patients and Psychiatrists (2010)==
This ground-breaking project stemmed from a Wellcome Trust Arts Award. The collection of 16 life-size etchings explores the inner worlds of practitioners and patients at the Bethlem Royal Hospital. With curiosity and compassion, Anderson traversed their public and private selves, unearthing intertwined narratives. Her etchings examine diverse medical phenomena, challenging conventional medicalization to capture human experiences. The work is now part of prestigious permanent collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Wellcome Collection and the Bethlem Gallery and Bethlem Museum of the Mind in London, and was exhibited at the Freud Museum and the Wellcome Collection among others.
==Isomorphology (2012) and Isomorphogenesis (2014)==
Gemma's artistic endeavors extend into scientific and philosophical realms, unveiling aesthetic and morphological relationships in nature. Isomorphology pioneered drawing-based observations of visual resemblances across natural kingdoms. Isomorphogenesis delved into representing morphology as a formative process through drawing-based algorithms. Both methods draw from diverse fields such as theoretical morphology and taxonomy, underscoring Anderson-Tempini's interdisciplinary ethos merging theory and practice through drawing. The works have been exhibited multiple times in international museums, including, among others, the Kroller Muller Museum in the Netherlands.
==Cornwall Morphology and Drawing Centre (2014)==
The Cornwall Morphology and Drawing Centre (CMADC) was run by Gemma Anderson-Tempini in 2014-2015 as a hub for learning through collaborative artistic practices. The CMADC fostered interdisciplinary exploration by merging art, science, and educational activities, centered around drawing and morphology, and repurposing scientific equipment such as microscopes donated by the Camborne School of Mines. The initiative includes drawing workshops, fieldwork, and discussions, emphasizing a participative approach to exploring Cornwall's rich morphological resources. Through various workshops spanning several scientific fields, participants engaged with experts, promoting a co-creative knowledge-building experience centred around drawing practice. This endeavor reflected Anderson-Tempini's broader aim of blurring the lines between art, science, and education, while also contributing to the ongoing discourse surrounding the 'Educational Turn' in contemporary art practices.
==Representing Biology as Process (2017–2021)==
This project, funded by an Arts and Humanities Research Council grant and led in collaboration with University of Exeter philosopher John Dupré and biologist James Wakefield, emerged from a debate on static versus processual views of biological entities, aiming to pioneer novel practices that intuitively capture the dynamism of living systems. It explores the indispensable role of visual representation in science, emphasizing drawing's ability to depict biological processes contrary to assumptions of static depiction. Building on Anderson-Tempini's Isomorphology project, her work on Isomorphogenesis began representing biological processes, further enriched through discussions with philosophers. This project reflects an innovative collaboration challenging paradigms and deepening understandings of biological processes. The work has been shown internationally including at ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, Camden Arts Centre and Newlyn Art Gallery among others
==Mathematics and Algebraic Geometry (2011-present)==
This ongoing endeavor, and long-standing collaboration with Imperial College London mathematicians Alessio Corti and Tom Coates, focuses on understanding and visualizing through interdisciplinary collaboration the complex geometries that are foundational in string theory. Significant aspects include classifying equations for these shapes, modeling multi-dimensional polytopes, and examining mirror symmetry. The sustained twelve-year collaboration has led to physical models of irregular 4D polytopes and string theory's inner spaces. It signifies the merging of art, mathematics and physics towards visualizing the fourth spatial dimension and other hidden geometries.
==A Crooked House (2023)==
"And She Built a Crooked House" is an immersive installation inviting audiences on a journey through the fourth spatial dimension, blending factual, historical and autobiographical elements, developed with Artangel arts organisation. This exploration of higher dimensions resonates with Anderson-Tempini's experience as a mother of twins. She synthesizes complex mathematical geometries and ideas through drawing, fostering novel perspectives on relating to our surroundings. The work exemplifies her ethos of leveraging art and mathematical research to explore human experiences through spatial thinking. A programme of events brings the project to schools in Leeds.
==Peer-reviewed books==
Drawing as a Way of Knowing in Art and Science (2017) explores how drawing enhances morphological insight in natural sciences, mathematics and art. Anderson-Tempini demonstrates drawing's crucial role in discovery and knowledge creation.
Drawing Processes of Life (2023) (available Open Access) is a collaborative effort exploring new methods to represent biological systems through drawing. It highlights drawing's scientific value in depicting biological processes.
Category:1981 births
Category:People from Belfast
Category:Alumni of Falmouth University
Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Art
Category:Alumni of the University of the Arts London
Category:Artists