DR GREG DUNN & DR BRIAN EDWARDS | PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Courtesy of the artist 

Microetchings are handmade lithographs that manipulate light on a microscopic scale to control the reflectivity of metallic surfaces in precise ways. These techniques were invented by Dr. Greg Dunn and his colleague Dr. Brian Edwards in order to change the way in which the viewer experiences a painting. These microetchings are designed to evolve based on the moving perspective of the viewer and are impossible to capture in still images.  

When the viewer walks past the piece from left to right, the etching animates the movement of water and nutrients collected from the soil which move through the xylem. These materials are delivered to the millions of living cells in the leaf. When walking from right to left, the etching animates the movements of sugars synthesized in the leaves which are transported through the phloem to feed the remainder of the plant.