Yas Crawford

Yas Crawford is a Visual Artist and multidisciplinary collaborator who has exhibited internationally. Crawford is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and a Fellow in support of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce. She was born in Pembrokeshire, Wales where the landscape and biological make-up have subliminally influenced her work. With a degree in Geology and a master’s in Photography, Crawford has worked in various business roles, as an entrepreneur in life sciences, and is now working in what she calls ‘The Grey Space’ in between disciplines. Crawford's research touches on mapping evolutionary change and reflects the impact it has on mankind.

Crawford's artwork has been recognised with several international awards including Winner of the Art of Neuroscience Award 2021 for Cognition IX, which is on permanent display at the Netherlands Institute of Neurosciences, Winner of the Land Air 4.0 Quasi Quadro Award, Italy 2021 with Inception I from which she was awarded her first solo exhibition Cellular Flow, I've been thinking...Turin 21-22 and she was a Finalist of the RPS Science Photographer of the Year 2019 with Oxygen Ib.

Multidisciplinary collaborations and work in The Grey Space include:

• A video animation with Tehran University of Art - entitled 'Cellular Flow' for a solo exhibition,Turin
• An emergent mixed video and evolutionary biology project - Nottingham University, entitled 'Flow Interrupted'
•Front cover journal images, reflecting research mapping neural activity in the brain - The Neuronal Signalling Group, Australia National University, Canberra
• Exhibition - medical conference artworks - PhD research on the immune system of M.E/CFS patients, Quadram Institute of Biosciences, Norwich.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Biology defines us in a fluid way unlike the rigid laws of physics and chemistry, allowing for greater complexity and adaptability. This fluid state provides a space where the path of life's cycle unfolds. Geology and the Holocene Epoch mark a significant chapter in the journey of creation, where geological forces shaped the Earth and from which life first emerged. Within this epoch, we witness the adaptation of genetics, the intricacies of human behaviour and interaction, environmental changes, and the impact of viral contamination—each a biological mystery often beyond human control.

 As I work in The Grey Space - that space between art and science - a space that invites a creative exploration of time, I navigate our emotions, senses, the ambiguous and the unknown. This Grey space is where disciplines intersect, overlap, communicate differently. It’s a place where we are encouraged to embrace uncertainty and challenge the boundaries of conventional understanding, embarking on a journey that is as much about the questions as it is about the answers. I aim to inspire a creative dialogue that navigates the complexities of life and challenges conventional understanding of our environment, time, and human experience.

My artwork informs scientific ideas artistically and abstractly to a variety of audiences. I use lens-based platforms to develop and create work in layers which could be digital, analogue or other lens-based methods, also video, illustration and camera-less techniques.