Fluorescence

Our collection of fluorescent materials began its life in 2006 when Directors Mark and Zoe put together a cabinet of fluoro curiosities for AfterImage at the Hayward Gallery. This scientific response to artist Dan Flavin’s work with light and colour explored the amazingly wide array of animals, minerals and vegetables that transform high-energy UV light into a lower-energy visible and often pink, green or blue glow. Highlights of the collection include human teeth, uranium glass, dodgy diamonds and ‘GFP’, the green fluorescent protein so popular in bioengineering.