In a pioneering fusion of creativity and scientific inquiry, the Wits Innovation Centre (WIC) has placed multidisciplinary artist Dr. Tebogo Matshana inside the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) as the new ArtSci4Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow.
This nine-month residency breaks down the barriers between the laboratory and the studio, allowing Matshana to explore the profound intersections of genomics, memory, and ancestry.
Genomics through a Poetic Lens
Known for its cutting-edge research into African genetic diversity and disease risk, the SBIMB is now embracing a shift in how science is experienced. Matshana, a visual artist and poet, is using the Institute’s extensive biobank—which houses DNA and blood samples from across the continent—as a catalyst for artistic exploration.
“Every cell in your body listens to your thoughts.” — Deepak Chopra
Inspired by this connection between emotional states and biological systems, Matshana is transforming technical terms into emotional experiences.
- DNA Repair: Interpreted not just as a molecular process, but as a sensory act of “stitching, mending, and healing.”
- Visual Metaphor: Utilizing Photoshop to layer onion skins, representing the entanglement of past, present, and future within our genetic makeup.
A Shared Language of Curiosity
Professor Michèle Ramsay, Director of SBIMB, highlights the symbiotic relationship between the two disciplines: “I think artists and scientists are very alike in that they’re both driven by curiosity and a desire to investigate the unknown.”
The fellowship aims to make complex biological relationships emotionally legible to broader audiences while offering scientists a new perspective on the humanistic and spiritual dimensions of their work.
Professor Christo Doherty, Director of the WIC, notes that this collaboration helps scientists develop “more ethically sensitive approaches to storytelling that recognise the complexity of medical and genomic research in African contexts.”
