The Case of the Deviant Toad
Work by Brandon Ballengée
16 – 31 March 2010
Location:
The Royal Institution of Great Britain
21 Albemarle Street
London W1S 4BS, UK
In this the International Year of Biodiversity, Ballengée’s artistic practice warns of high incidences of amphibian deformity in response to environmental degradation through his creation of aesthetically rich images and intriguing installations.
In the exhibition, Ballengée presents variations of his sculptural series ‘Styx‘ which display cleared and stained specimens of deformed toads, each tiny animal presented in a precisely illuminated glass dish. In a gallery context, the specimens resemble translucent gems – enchanting, terrible and other-worldly. Framed watercolour prints of detailed vibrant specimens scans are reminiscent of x-rays, presenting large-scale images of fragile delicacy to invoke viewers’ empathy.
The artist’s long-standing interest in deformed amphibian species concerns their metamorphosis in water; amphibians are extremely responsive to changes in their environment and therefore serve as an ‘advance guard’ warning of environmental change. His work with the contemporary art organisations The Arts Catalyst and Yorkshire Sculpture Park began with a commission to study of amphibians in the Sculpture Park, looking at a particular population of toads with a high incidence of deformity. Between 2006 and 2008, Ballengée led numerous ‘Ecoactions’ (public field trips) in the Park, established an open laboratory, collected and observed thousands of specimens, constructed and painstakingly conducted experiments in an effort to determine what might be the cause. The exhibition includes new specimens and prints from this study.
Alongside Yorkshire naturalist Richard Sunter and with US scientist Dr Stanley K Sessions, Ballengée used a process known as ‘clearing and staining’, which renders the soft parts of the specimen almost transparent in order to study their morphologies. The fragile beauty of the resulting high-resolution scanned images of abnormal toadlets form the centrepiece of the exhibition. They are shown alongside the tiny specimens themselves, videos and drawings made during Ballengée’s research.
The free exhibition at the Royal Institution, The Case of the Deviant Toad, from 16 – 31 March 2010 coincides with the launch of a new publication of Malamp, The Occurrence of Deformities in Amphibians by Brandon Ballengée. This monograph, jointly published by The Arts Catalyst and Yorkshire Sculpture Park, brings together Ballengée’s UK research with findings from his global amphibian studies. It includes texts on his practice from arts, science and ecological perspectives, including a keynote essay by the renowned art critic and curator Lucy R Lippard. Additional contributors include Clare Lilley, Head Curator at Yorkshire Sculpture Park; Nicola Triscott, Director of The Arts Catalyst; Dr Stanley K Sessions, Professor of Biology, Hartwick College and Dr Kerry Kriger, Director of Save the Frogs. The publication is richly illustrated with extraordinary photographs, Ballengée’s drawings and other artworks.
The Arts Catalyst is the contemporary art organisation that makes bridges between artists and scientists as they address issues about our changing world. www.artscatalyst.org
Yorkshire Sculpture Park www.ysp.co.uk
Launch event:
Monday 15 March 2010, 6.30pm Art-Science Café – artist Brandon Ballengée in conversation with Michaela Crimmin, Director of Arts at RSA
Exhibition:
16 to 31 March 2010, open Monday to Friday, 9am to 11pm. Admission free
The Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS, UK
Publication:
Malamp: The Occurrence of Deformities in Amphibians, Brandon Ballengée. Edited by Nicola Triscott/Miranda Pope. 72 page, softback. ISBN 978-0-9534546-7-9
