'2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Made:
2020 in London
maker:
Angela Palmer
Glass sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Glass sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Glass sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Glass sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Glass sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Glass sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3. Hand engraving of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on 28 sheets of glass. Piece comprises the glass sculpture, plus slatted base, plinth and perspex lid. Illuminated from below.

In 2020, as Covid-19 spread across the world, Angela Palmer became fascinated by seeing and knowing better the architecture of this invisible virus. In previous work, she pioneered a technique to reconstruct the human body by drawing or engraving details from MRI or CT scans onto multiple sheets of glass, displayed layer by layer to build a shifting picture of the subject. Interested if this method could help make the architecture of the Coronavirus available for scrutiny and interrogation, she contacted bioinformatics specialist, Professor Dmitry Korkin of Worcester Polytechnic in Massachusetts, USA, who shared cross sections of his model of the Covid-19 virus. This was mapped from the viral genome provided by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, which uses the genomic map of the original virus found in Wuhan, China. Palmer collaborated with Professor Yiannis Ventikos, the Head of Mechanical Engineering at UCL, and his team to translate Korkin’s data into cross-sections usable in her work.

She then spent the first three months of the 2020 UK lockdown engraving by hand the multiple layers and spikes constructing the virus particle onto individual sheets of glass. For Palmer, the resulting sculpture offers the observer the opportunity of a meditation on the year 2020, a chance to reflect on both the global impact of a pandemic but also individual, personal implications of the period on each and every international citizen. ‘It may prompt reflection and contemplation of loss - a loss that will of course be unique in form to each observer'. ‘Laid bare, the particle sphere may also offer empowerment and agency, seen suspended and imprisoned in a glass chamber, suddenly solitary, isolated and vulnerable.’

Details

Category:
Art
Object Number:
2021-647
Materials:
glass and plastic (unidentified)
Measurements:
sculpture: 800 mm x 800 mm x 600 mm,
Plinth: 1200 mm x 970 mm x 970 mm,
Full installation: 2000 mm x 970 mm x 970 mm,
type:
sculpture

Parts

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Measurements:
overall: 800 mm x 840 mm x 1 mm, 5 kg
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/1
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/2
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/3
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/4
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/13
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/14
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/15
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/16
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/17
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/18
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/19
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/20
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/21
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/22
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/23
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/24
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/25
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/26
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/27
type:
sculpture
Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Glass Sheet for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Engraved glass sheet, one of 28 hand engraved glass sheets which together depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2021-647/28
type:
sculpture
Base for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Base for '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' sculpture of Coronavirus by Angela Palmer

Slatted base for glass sculpture '2020: the Sphere that Changed the World' by Angela Palmer, 2020. Edition 1 of 3. Each slat is built to house one of the 28 glass sheets which together depict the depict the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Measurements:
overall: 128 mm x 952 mm x 970 mm, 51 kg
Materials:
tulipwood , birch plywood and perspex
Object Number:
2021-647/29
type:
base - object component