Yas Crawford

Yas Crawford is a Fine Art Photographer, Visual Artist and multidisciplinary collaborator who has exhibited internationally. Crawford is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and a former Fellow of the Geological Society. 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. Mapping theory is an integral part of her body of work. 

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 NetherlandsInstitute of Neurosciences, Winner of the Land Air 4.0 Quasi Quadro Award 2021 for Inception I where 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 her work in The Grey Space include a neurological project/video animation with Tehran University of Art, an evolutionary biology project with Nottingham University, research on mapping neural activity in the brain for The Neuronal Signalling Group, Australia NationalUniversity, Canberra and PhD research on the immune system of M.E/CFS patients, Quadram Institute of Biosciences, Norwich. Future projects include collaborations in neurology and cellular biology collaborations.

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 marks a significant chapter in the journey of creation, where geological forces shaped the Earth and from whichlife 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, 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: digital, analogue, video, illustration and camera-less techniques are rooted in geological mapping theory. Whilst exploring evolutionary change I reflect its impact on humanity. I inform scientific ideas artistically and abstractly to a variety of audiences.