Discover Artistic explorations of science and identity

In May 2024, a creative and thought-provoking workshop series brought together students from Kingston University’s BSc Pharmaceutical Science and MA Illustration programmes. Led by Drs Nick Freestone, Francesca Arrigoni, Stephanie Black, and artist Ravista Mehra, the sessions invited open conversations about culture, identity, health, and lived experiences in science and higher education.
 

What started as a project to diversify scientific representation quickly evolved. Challenging the formats they were given, illustration students redefined their briefs to reflect decolonial thinking. The results? A striking array of visual works: a cartoon infographic on neurodiversity, a stop-motion film about under-representation in curricula, artwork on sickle cell disease, and a portrait of Pakistan’s first Nobel laureate, among others.

Sickle Cell Disease by Jing Xia

This illustration highlights sickle cell disease’s painful impact, healthcare inequality, and the urgent need for awareness, empathy, and improved treatment.

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Abdus Salam: A Life of Science and Struggle by Nuode Li

This series honours Pakistan's first Nobel laureate in science. It explores his journey and legacy through blurred portraits and silhouettes, questioning who is visible in science.

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Neurodivergent Students by Sharon Lin

This illustrated satirical comic strip highlights neurodivergent students’ struggles with rigid academic systems, exposing the irony and unreasonableness of proving their needs.

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Silent Healing by Summer Gao

This illustrated comic links lip healing to uterine repair during menstruation, highlighting the female body's unseen efforts and the need for greater awareness of gynaecological health.

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Book of STIs by Francesca Arrigoni-Halliday

Using letterpress printing to blend art and medicine, this book highlights the beauty and horror of STIs while advocating for marginalized groups and challenging societal stigmas.

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Curves by Ann Man Hei Wong

This stop-motion animation transforms a kyphoscoliosis-afflicted skeleton into a tranquil tree, using vivid colours, organic forms, and natural soundscapes to reveal the beauty of a curved spine.

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This initiative opens up a compelling dialogue about inclusion in science and not only in who we teach about, but in how students see themselves reflected in their field.
 

Explore the full story and artworks via this link:   Artistic Explorations of Science and Identity