"Art is solving problems that cannot be formulated
before they have been solved.
The shaping of the question is part of the answer."
Piet Hein (1973)
before they have been solved.
The shaping of the question is part of the answer."
Piet Hein (1973)
Michael Whittle is an artist and researcher in Diagrammatology, the study of diagrams. He originally qualified and trained as a biochemist, before changing subject to study fine art. His research based practice draws upon images, ideas and data found in scientific research papers, and from dialogues with scientists.
His recent projects include a large-scale installation at the 2022 Changwon Sculpture Biennale, developed in consultation with astrophysicist David Hathaway of NASA’s Ames Research Center. Also, the 2020 project ‘Perpetual Motion’ that explored the biology of movement and memory, which was created in consultation with Nobel laureates May-Britt and Edvard Moser at the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norway.
With over a decade of experience living and working in Japan, Whittle is member of the Japanese Government MEXT Scholars Association, and Kyoto University’s ‘Light Unit for Science and Art Liaison’. In 2018 he was invited to give the annual ‘Pioneer Lecture’ at the London College of Communication, in celebration of pioneering research in visual art and design communication.
Research Assistant Professor in the Augmented Creativity Lab, Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University (2020-2023).
Co-founder of 'Pollen', an AI powered creative studio based in Kyoto, Japan.
Co-initiator of Art Futures Asia Prize for outstanding recent graduates across Asia.