Rob Kesseler – Response

After researching into Rob Kesseler’s work, I created a few of my own images in response to him. I used images of natural forms including the bark of trees, stumps and broken slate to create these images in Photoshop CS5.

I layered different parts of the subjects of my photos together and changed the ‘Hue/Saturation’, as well as increasing the ‘Contrast’ to create the effects shown above. I then cropped the images and refined them further, showing the hidden details in natural forms that one may not see at glancing distance.

The shapes present in the subjects of my work reflect the detail and structure in natural forms which may otherwise seem very simple to the naked eye. Although I was unable to look at individual cells at microscopic view, I was able to portray influence from Rob Kesseler by looking at natural forms at a closer view.

Rob Kesseler

During the past thirteen years, Visual Artist and Chair in Arts, Design & Science at the University of Arts, London, Rob Kesseler, has collaborated with various botanical scientists and molecular biologists in an attempt to explore the world in a microscopic level. By reflecting the way in which nature is intertwined with everyday life using microscopy processed, Kesseler combines science and art to present his audience with nature in the most contemporary culture.

Gennaria Diphylla: This image shows the cell of a very rare orchidaceous which is green-yellow in colouring and has two leaves usually located further up the stem of the plant.

It is most commonly found located in central and western Mediterranean regions and is quite scarce towards the east. It can also be found in Madeira and certain parts of the Canary Isles.

Cephalanthera: This cell is also from a plant of the orchidaceous family which can be commonly found in Europe.