Art at AAAS: "Chemography III, A Symbiosis of Art and Science"
Metal of Transition Gold, copper, polymer; 26" x 34" Rüdiger
Haugwitz's fascination with the chemistry of color began with an
aggressive case of blood poisoning, when he was 6 years old and
living on a farm in Germany. He was rushed to a distant hospital
by horse and buggy, treated with brick-red tablets and quickly
released as cured. More than 10 years later, right as World War
II came to an end and the military retreated, among the
equipment and weapons left behind that the children could get
their hands on were bright yellow flare-like sticks, which, when
ignited, burned beautifully with a charcoal flame. Much later in
life, as a chemist, Haugwitz realized that the beautiful red
that saved his life must have been prontosil rubrum, the first
sulfa drug discovered in the early 20th century by the chemist
Gerhard Domagk. The sticks, which burned beautifully with a
smoky flame, Haugwitz also discovered later, must have been TNT,
a very powerful exp