The School of Optometry and Institute of Vision, Cardiff University is proving that science and art can live together in harmony. Its new home is proving to be popular as an art gallery, as well as an internationally acclaimed centre of scientific learning.
'Who I Really Am' is an exhibition in the café area by 16 women that resulted from a series of artist-led workshops. These were provided as part of an Artes Mundi outreach programme in collaboration with the All Wales Ethnic Minority Association (AWEMA). In the atrium, Claire Morgan has created large-scale three-dimensional art pieces that reflect the activities of the area. In the autumn, the school hosted 'Design Beyond Sight' in the Clinical Corridor. This was an exhibition of Czech design prototypes for visually impaired people which could be enjoyed by sighted and blind alike.
The usefulness of the everyday objects on show was matched by their aesthetic appeal. This resulted from a collaboration between the Czech Centre, JBC London, Cardiff School of Art and Design, Design Wales, Cardiff Institute for the Blind and RNIB Cymru and Cardiff University School of Optometry and Institute of Vision.
In the New Year an exhibition by the photographer Richard Bailey of images of people with Down's syndrome will visiting the school for two months. The School of Optometry and Institute of Vision welcomes anyone to visit Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
? Dr Barbara Ryan is a research associate at the School of Optometry and Institute of Vision Science, Cardiff University