Pseudo-science as art?

Working on "A month in my head" has made me think again about this urge to present art like science.

I really like the idea of making art that 'looks' like science - I think it's the aesthetic of 'Victorian' science - it reminds me of my childhood for some reason - wooden cases, brass label holders, little inked labels. It's weird because I think it's about the 'trappings' of science, not the rigour - it's not about the urge to approach the art scientifically, it's about the urge to present the art as though it's science. I guess for the topic of mental health, it can make sense, but it goes wider.

Examples and potential examples:

• A month in my head presents my mental health on wax heads each day for a month. The wax heads and the process of recording each day both evoke scientific method. I am making an oak case for them, and I'm tempted to label them with the notes I took each day
• The 'blank' guilt mask is like a psychology model
• "Secrets" (if I ever make it!) uses little glass vials like biological specimens
• ...

Maybe it comes from my science background? À la recherche du temps perdu perhaps? There is something interesting and engaging (to me) about documenting things fastidiously, especially things that don't warrant that level of fastidiousness. It makes an interesting statement. I also love maps and diagrams.

Let's see where it goes.