Draft:Gemma Anderson

Gemma Anderson-Tempini (née Anderson; born 1981) is an Irish artist whose work intersects art, science, and philosophy. Holding an honorary research fellowship at the University of Exeter, she has a PhD in Drawing from the University of the Arts London. Her contributions are reflected in her interdisciplinary projects and her presence in international exhibitions and institutional collections.

Work approach
Anderson-Tempini engages with the integration of artistic and scientific methodologies, focusing on themes such as the biological processes, geometrical structures, and the interconnectivity of species. Media extend across drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and installation, and projects often explore art and science through collaborative research.

Early Years and Education
Anderson-Tempini pursued education in art, obtaining her BA from Falmouth College of Art and an MA in Fine Arts Printmaking from the Royal College of Art. Her academic journey continued with a Certificate in Anatomy for Artists from University College London, and a PhD in Drawing from the University of the Arts London, where she developed her interdisciplinary approach.

Formative Years (2002–2012)
During her formative years, Anderson-Tempini's work combined art with scientific study, concentrating on botanical, geological, and natural historical themes. This period was marked by her efforts to merge observational drawing with scientific subjects, setting the stage for her later interdisciplinary work.

Portraits: Patients and Psychiatrists (2010)
The "Portraits: Patients and Psychiatrists" series, supported by the Wellcome Trust Arts Award, features etchings that depict individuals from the Bethlem Royal Hospital. This collection aims to offer a visual exploration of the experiences within psychiatric contexts, and is featured in the permanent collections of institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Wellcome Collection. It was exhibited multiple times in different institutions. It was also released in book form.

Isomorphology (2012) and Isomorphogenesis (2014)
Her projects "Isomorphology" and "Isomorphogenesis" utilize drawing to investigate morphological similarities and developmental processes in nature. These works are part of the broader endeavor to integrate artistic and scientific methodologies. Among other insitutions, they have been exhibited at the Kroller-Mueller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.

Cornwall Morphology and Drawing Centre (2014)
The Cornwall Morphology and Drawing Centre aimed to merge artistic and scientific exploration centered on morphology. The initiative facilitated collaborative workshops and discussions, emphasizing drawing's role in interdisciplinary research.

Representing Biology as Process (2017–2021)
Supported by an Arts and Humanities Research Council research grant, this project engaged with the processual nature of the living world, utilizing drawing to represent it. A collaboration between artist, philosophers and scientists, it was funded to develop new perspectives on biological representation. Some of Anderson-Tempini's works from this series have been exhibited in the show Critical Zones, curated by Martin Guinard and the late Bruno Latour, at the ZKM – Zentrum für Kunst und Medien, in Karlsruhe; and the Camden Arts Centre.

Mathematics and Algebraic Geometry (2011-present)
In collaboration with Imperial College London mathematicians Alessio Corti and Tom Coates, Anderson-Tempini's work in this area focuses on the visual representation of high-dimension mathematical concepts, particularly those related to string theory. The project aims to make complex mathematical ideas explorable through visual art, facilitating a unique interdisciplinary discourse.

A Crooked House (2023)
"And She Built a Crooked House" is an eight-room installation, in a late Victorian period building in Leeds, that engages with the concepts of higher-dimensional space, domesticity and mothering, developed in collaboration with the Artangel organisation and the City of Leeds as part of the 2023 City of Culture programme. The project combines mathematical, artistic, and narrative elements to explore spatial dimensions, offering a platform for audience engagement with advanced mathematical concepts.

Peer-reviewed books
Her books "Drawing as a Way of Knowing in Art and Science" and "Drawing Processes of Life" reflect on the interplay between drawing, art, and scientific exploration. These publications discuss her approach to using drawing as a methodological tool in both scientific and artistic practices.