From Atoms to Patterns

When
24 April 2008 -
10 August 2008

10:00-18:00

Where
Wellcome Collection

Cost
Free

Age Restrictions
n/a

From Atoms to Patterns at the Wellcome Collection explores the wonderful and vibrant collection of creations made by the Festival Patter Group of 1951. Set up especially for the Festival of Britain, the group used x ray crystallographers, designers and manufacturers to create unusual and ecelctic patterns for ordinary household objects.

Post war science saw an explosion of ideas with exploration in the world of chemistry, physics, biology and minerology. X ray crystallography was one of the most exciting new applications which meant that scientists could study photographs of crystals and calculate the arrangement of the atoms within the molecules. The resulting diagrams were then used as inspiration for the Festial Pattern Group and make up the collection of images on show in From Atoms to Patterns.

Reunited for the first time since the Festival of Britain, the collection was held in storage at the Victoria and Albert Museum for 50 years. Now on show to the public once again From Atoms to Patterns shows how curtains, wallpaper, carpets, lace, fabrics, plates and even ashtrays were decorated with these scientifically inspired patterns.