Ann Veronica Janssens 31.05.23, 2023

Ann Veronica Janssens' 31.05.23 belongs to a newly developed body of work, first presented at the artist's 2022 solo exhibition at the Fondation Lambert in Avignon. Each work in the series consists of a glass pane submerged in a dopamine-melanin liquid bath for a specific period of time, producing a uniquely patterned nanofilm on the panel’s surface. The date in the artwork’s title refers to the day when the specific panel was removed from the liquid, revealing the intricate result of the nanofilm-building process.

The development of nanofilms stems from a research project, titled Structural Color, led by Janssens and Dr. Maria Boto Ordonez at KASK/School of Arts of University College Ghent, Laboratorium, a specialized department for the experimentation between art, design, and biotechnology. The research presents a highly innovative and creative approach to color that comes from the assertion that color as such occurs in nature in two ways: via pigment coloration or via structures interacting with light.

Structural coloration is produced by surfaces on which microscopically structured layers interfere with visible light. The resulting color palette is broader than the palette of pigment color. Examples of structural coloration are iridescence and rapid color change in the skin of certain animals used for camouflage.