Hecklab
A breathtaking fusion of science and art
Science in motion
In our long-running collaboration with Hecklab, we merge hardcore science with artistic expression. Striking upon a tasteful combination of choreography and visual effects, our videos are noteworthy due to the use of dancers as symbols: adding to the relatability of highly abstract processes taking place in our body. This unique format has developed into a strongly identifiable feature, combining art and science in a way that captivates a wide variety of audiences.
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From 3D animation to choreography
Utrecht University’s Hecklab is the research group around Albert Heck, recipient of the prestigious Spinoza Award and a leading scientist in the fields of biomolecular mass spectrometry and proteomics. Over the years we have created numerous videos together, always looking for creative ways to get viewers engaged: from visualising a bacteria’s biological clock to choreographing a beautiful ballet of antibodies.
Immersive live performance
Through almost a decade of working together, we have built up a proud partnership with Albert Heck and his team. We have enabled each other to push the boundaries of creativity, and we haven’t stopped: our long-term alliance recently culminated in an all-new live spectacle. Teaming up with dancers from the Aerialettes, we were able to elevate a scientific congress by designing and directing a captivating performance.
"Working with artists I can recommend to any scientist. It can open new views for yourself on science, and enables you to get more people fascinated by science and its beauty.”
Albert Heck | Scientific Director & Founder
Vast online audience
Our various films for Hecklab have reached the eyeballs of over 1,580,000 people. As well as being eagerly shared online, prompting positive reactions on social media platforms, they also gained traction within academic circles and were circulated among numerous universities. Our film about proteomics was even featured by The Washington Post, demonstrating the broad appeal and impact of our visionary approach to science communication.
Longstanding collaboration
Our collaboration with Hecklab spans over a decade, beginning with an innovative video on proteomics. From the outset, we incorporated elements of dance and the human body, establishing a thematic thread that continues to define our collaboration.
Published in 'Nature'
The innovativeness of our work has also received recognition from the scientific community, with a notable appearance in the March 2023 issue of Nature’s scientific journal Nature Methods. The publication, titled Science Meets Art, features Albert Heck touching on the beauty of protein structures (“more like living creatures” that "dance around each other and interact”) as well as the origins of our collaborative venture.
”Heck began meeting with video artists at the agency Sensu. As he told them how a change in the proteome can turn a caterpillar into a butterfly or how 'T-cell receptors dance around their dancing partners before they grab them tightly for a tango', they began work on a storyline..."
Nature Scientific Journal
