Introduction

In 1998, through my links with London's Tate Gallery, I was fortunate to be invited to a showing of works by an original up and coming artist, Ivan Riches. Amongst the pieces, one struck me as quite different and of much interest. It was a print of a flaming face and hands overlaid by a meticulously drawn pair of hands pressed upon the surface of a separate upper fabric. The images were mounted upon a light box which, when turned off, showed the hands and when lit, brought out the detail from the flaming image. The striking contrast between the two visions made me think - this might be a way to achieve visually - and in an instant, an explanation of what Amersham's products and technologies do: the exploration of inner space to enable molecular medicine.

"Explain our company in art" became the brief for a commission to Ivan. The results are impressive and the originals are now on display at our Head Office. Clearly, whilst this webpage cannot do justice to the painstaking detail and size of the works, it does at least, provide a flavour of them and an explanation of the products and research which provided Ivan the stimulus for his work.

I do hope you will be pleased and enlightened by the works - they have certainly illuminated our minds.

Sir William Castell
Chief Executive
October 2000

Penetrating Gaze

This triptych depicts the company's diagnostic imaging technologies and their potential. Using imprints and drawings of his body. Ivan has gone beneath the skin and into the innermost organs and tissues as illuminated by the company's products. Each work measures approximately 50x35cm.

From left to right the images show visualisation of the brain using Ceretic™ with structure of the heart as shown by Myoview™. Next, is a look to the future with the early detection of Parkinson's disease in the brain as revealed by DaTSCAN™ and below this, the chambers of the heart using the newly submitted ultrasound contrast agent Sonazoid™. Last, is an image of the brain's blood vessels shown by the MRI agent Clariscan™ and below it, the potential for the future examination of the internal structure of the lungs using the novel new technique of Spin Signal Technology which utilises hyperpolarized gases.

The Artist

Ivan Riches has been a professional since graduating in 1988 with an MA in Fine Art from Birmingham Polytechnic. Ivan's works have featured widely in group exhibitions throughout the UK and he has held a number of solo exhibitions in London. In his recent works, Ivan has specialised in the use of multiple layers of images back illuminated by light boxes.

Amersham plc commissioned Ivan in February 1999 to create a series of works to depict the Company's principal business areas of diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine, and genomics and life sciences. Working in residence, Ivan spent six months with the company, focussing his time with the product and research and development teams in Norway and the UK. His works were created on site, in a public area enabling regular and informal dialogue with staff and visitors.

The resulting triptychs which make up 'Images of Inner Space' and the larger 'IN'SIGHT' are powerful and graphic visualisations of the company's products and know-how which lead the viewer into the heart of the human body and deeper still into the exploration and visualisation of the genetic basis of life itself and the new world of molecular medicine. Technology of the future is depicted in tandem with the present, entwined with a strong visual linkage to the past.

The images (left to right) show the use of biochemicals for the screening of potential new drugs in the company's LEADseeker™ technology; the identification of body proteins using gel electrophoresis; and finally, the use of MegaBACE™ to separate DNA.