“Indispensable” is a series that asks the de Young’s Artists in Residence to describe a tool that’s essential to their work.

“I cut myself all the time. She never does.”

Once a month, we ask the current Artist-in-Residence at the de Young to tell us about a tool they use in their work, or that they otherwise find particularly interesting.

January Artist-in-Residence John Zaklikowski has titled his residency Culture and Physics Collide, an apt description for his artwork which utilizes a wide variety of technological materials and meets at the intersection of art and science. His large-scale assemblages investigate notions of perception and optical illusion, illustrating the interplay of art, science, literature, and cultural studies.