biography

Abbey architectural projection show where Augustinian monk Gregor Mendel first discovered the principles of genetics. Celebrating 150 years, Brno Czech Republic 2015

Abbey architectural projection show where Augustinian monk Gregor Mendel first discovered the principles of genetics. Celebrating 150 years, Brno Czech Republic 2015

150 words

Drew Berry is a biomedical animator who creates beautiful, accurate visualisations of the dramatic cellular and molecular action that is going on inside our bodies. Beginning his career as a cell biologist, his raw materials are technical reports, research data and models from scientific journals. As an artist he works as a translator, from abstract and complicated scientific concepts into vivid and meaningful visual journeys. Since 1995 he has been a biomedical animator at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Australia. His animations have exhibited at venues such as the Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art, the Royal Institute of Great Britain and the University of Geneva. In 2010 he received a MacArthur Fellowship “Genius Grant".

Email Drew Berry

Recognition and awards

  • Honorary Doctorate of Technology, Linköping University Sweden, 2016

  • MacArthur Fellowship, 2010

  • New York Times “If there is a Steven Spielberg of molecular animation, it is probably Drew Berry.” 2010

  • The New Yorker “[Drew Berry’s] animations are astonishingly beautiful”, December 2008

  • American Scientist "The admirers of Drew Berry, at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Australia, talk about him the way Cellini talked about Michelangelo.", September 2009

  • Nature journal’s Niche Prize, UK 2008-9

  • Emmy for DNA documentary series by Windfall Films, 2005

  • BAFTA award for DNA Interactive DVD by RGB Co, UK 2004

 

Highlight Exhibitions and Productions

  • Mendel: The Legacy architectural projection show, Czech Republic 2015

  • Virus one billion times White Night Melbourne, State Library of Victoria 2014

  • E.O. Wilson's Life on Earth iPad interactive textbook 2011–2014

  • Pixar University presentation, San Francisco 2013

  • Vivid Festival presentation, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney 2013 and 2014

  • TED.com top ten presentation in the "Jaw Dropping" category 2012

  • Apple Inc presentation, Cupertino USA 2012

  • Google SciFoo, San Francisco 2012

  • Björk's Biophilia iPad App and 'Hollow' music video 2010

  • University of Geneva’s Genome Dome exhibition, Switzerland 2009-10

  • Guggenheim Genes and Jazz with Harold Varmus, USA 2008-9

  • The Royal Institution of Great Britain installation, UK 2008-9

  • Shanghai Zendai Museum of Modern Art Strange Attractors exhibition, China 2006

  • Museum of Modern Art Premieres exhibition, USA 2004-5

Links

WEHI animation library: http://www.wehi.tv

TED talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/drew_berry_animations_of_unseeable_biology

Drew Berry Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Berry

Björk 'Hollow' music video: https://youtu.be/Yn8AC8z2adU