The Book of Imaginary Science

The Museum of the History of Science is situated in Broad Street, i n the heart

of O xford, an encrustment within the barnacle structure of the university

buildings which embody the heart of this city.

By virtue of the collection and the building, the Museum occupies a special

position, both in the study of the history of science and in   the development of

western culture and collecting. as a department of the University of Oxford, the

museum is visited by academics and public alike.

The museums collection of approximately 15.000 objects, trace the

development of scientific thought from antiquity to the early twentieth century.

Objects whose functionality and meaning is   sometimes immediately accessible

simply through scrutiny, whilst on other occasions can only be comprehended

by referring to the museums` text boards.

We may begin with the scientific factuality surrounding the wonderful objects in

this museum, but my wish has been to emphasis their power as thought

provocateurs, and follows the clues given by their esthetical quality, thus

opening a space which might lead us to areas of alternative speculation as to

their “value” and “true” nature.

With my point of departure taken with reference to certain specific objects or

areas within the museums collection, I have collected texts from the Archive of

Imaginary Science, and constructed my own objects and made drawings in

response to these texts. The aim being that by opening a parallel space within

our own imaginations, we might then be able to look back and reconsider the

nature of the heritage, purpose and mythology of the objects in this museum,

which perhaps, lye sleeping.

The five objects or areas which I chose within the museum became

the basis for the following interventions:

1) “Galileo’s Final Telescope” in response 

to inventory no. 37599, copy 

of Galileo’s telescope 

of 1609 - 1610  

3) “Shagreen-the telescope of Lieutenant

 Flinders”,  in response to inventory 

no: 39079,  52178, 153094,  

hand-held  refracting 

telescopes,  English,  

18th century.