Why Science Needs Art: From Historical to Modern Day Perspectives

by Richard Roche, Sean Commins, Francesca Farina

Why Science Needs Art explores the complex relationship between these seemingly polarised fields. Reflecting on a time when art and science were considered inseparable and symbiotic pursuits, the book discusses how they have historically informed and influenced each other, before considering how public perception of the relationship between these disciplines has fundamentally changed. Science and art have something very important in they both seek to reduce something infinitely complex to something simpler. Using examples from diverse areas including microscopy, brain injury, classical art, and data visualization, the book delves into the history of the intersection of these two disciplines, before considering current tensions between the fields. The emerging field of neuroaesthetics and its attempts to scientifically understand what humans find beautiful is also explored, suggesting ways in which the relationship between art and science may return to a more co-operative state in the future. Why Science Needs Art provides an essential insight into the relationship between art and science in an appealing and relevant way. Featuring colorful examples throughout, the book will be of interest to students and researchers of neuroaesthetics and visual perception, as well as all those wanting to discover more about the complex and exciting intersection of art and science.

132 pages, Paperback

Published April 11, 2018

Reviews

[Rachael Hedger · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read for any scientist, artist or indeed scientist-artist. This book travels through time to show the individual work of Renaissance artists, to those who worked with large amounts of information in their artwork.
Just as Oliver Sacks worked to put the person in front of the science, this book also endeavours to do the same; beautifully telling tales of significant people in this field.
This book has more of a neuroscientific emphasis than I was expecting and I think there are other ways in which science informs art and vice versa; we cannot say that neuroaesthetics is the only way in which these two disciplines will be linked in the future. Nevertheless, it clearly outlines the symbiotic relationship and this was one of its highlights.

[sam howie · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the title gives an impression of a more holistic reading on the idea of a symbiotic relationship existing between art and science, this book acts more like a chapter focusing on cognitive neuroscience, in particular, neuroesthetics, in what, I feel, could be a much larger study on the subject. Regardless, this is a fascinating study that, as someone who certainly identifies with the art side of the coin, has had their interest piqued.

[Luke McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating dive into the connection between our visual perception of art, and its relation to neuroscience and science communication. A good summary of different views and theories concerning this connection- and some lovely figures that really prove 'why science needs art'

[Jim Malone · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book with lots of useful information and case studies of relationships between the arts and science. I think it might have been better if it followed these ideas and how working scientists might use them in their day to day lives. Instead it followed the ideas into neuroaesthetics which, though important to some academics, does nothing for me.