Shelley Wilson collaborated with Professor David Hopkinson, a geneticist at Galton Laboratories UCL, carrying out research into the location of genes responsible for facial features. They investigated the theme of human individuality. Everyone has their own unique genetic constitution, and a unique appearance. The genetic code is the fundamental invisible body – it cannot be seen but is imprinted on the identity of who we are as individuals.

Their collaborative project explored the relationships amongst the invisible genetic codes and the visible familiar facial features in parents and their children. The face is the most significant and emotional of components of the invisible body. Basic data from nuclear family 2 parents and 2 children – Wilson’s own immediate family – was compiled using high tech 3D scanning and DNA sampling. In contrast, the visual interpretations of her interaction with her immediate family are presented at given moments in time.

Wilson and Hopkinson are addressing how much of the invisible body has allowed itself to be revealed in the study? Are there similarities among the related individuals? What kind of match is achieved between Science and Art? How close do we get to the genes in what we see and record in the faces of our friends and families? How far can we go or do we simply see what we want to see?