He(art) of refrigeration

At RD&T we generally design, develop and test refrigeration systems.  However, a new project recently extended our work into an area far flung from engineering.  Ed Hammond was approached by Sarah Wilton an art student from UWE (University of the West of England).  She had the idea of developing a refrigerated piece of art as part of her art degree. The idea of a frozen heart was described to Ed who provided Sarah with a long length of copper pipe.  This was taken away and carefully bent into a human heart shape.  Ed then went to work and designed and installed a capillary based refrigeration system to freezer the heart.  The refrigeration system provided sufficient cooling to build up a fine layer of snow on the surface of the pipes providing an icy heart art installation.  The art was subsequently exhibited by Sarah at her final year exhibition in Bristol and has since been taken to London to be exhibited. 

Sarah is keen to continue her refrigerated art and we are currently discussing ideas for the next project.  Perhaps refrigeration rather than formaldehyde as a means to preserve art is the future? Maybe Damien Hurst should be interested?

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