From DNA to digital art
In her day job, Waad AlBawardi is a postdoctoral research fellow focusing on understanding the principles of chromatin folding, the process by which the DNA in chromosomes is organised into compact structures within the nucleus.
Outside of the lab, she is an artist creating multimedia work which explores complex patterns in nature.
She also collaborates with musicians on visual performances, where she does live video editing in response to the music, and takes part in group exhibitions and educational workshops.
A lot of my art is inspired by my interest in biology. I never start with a big idea – it’s all about looking at errors, unpredictability and complexities in nature. It came about through playing around with video editing software.
Waad, who is originally from Saudi Arabia, moved to Edinburgh to do a Masters and then a PhD before becoming a postdoc in Professor Nick Gilbert’s lab in the Institute of Genetics and Cancer.
While she mainly thinks of her art as a hobby, she has exhibited her work at various events throughout the UK, including at the Hidden Door pop-up art festival in Edinburgh, NightGarden in Manchester and Ealing Extranormal in London, and further afield at Ambient Evenings in Pargas, Finland.
Her latest project is called Morphogen.
It is inspired by chemical molecules that control patterning in nature and how they evolve. I think approaching science through art allows people to engage with the concepts we use in a more interactive way.
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