Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

A model of the neurons and synapses within the brain (Ghose)

The human brain is remarkable. There are almost 100 billion cells connected by trillions of bridges that work together to keep us alive and control our movements (Voytek). Between every neuron, small electronic shocks send millions of messages every second. Each part of our brains has a specific purpose: the temporal lobe processes sound and language, the hippocampus and amygdala help control memory and emotion and the occipital lobe takes care of our sight (just to name a few) (Lewis). The way our brains function and how it keeps us alive and functioning is an art itself.

A collection of Suzanne Anker's art

Recently, many artists have begun using images of our brains for art. Suzanne Anker was one of the first pioneers of brain art through the Neuroculture movement (Vensa). She obtained pictures of neurological maps, traced a series of individual neurons and found that many of them looked like butterflies. This is due to the symmetry of the neurons as well as the elongated sides (CPW).  Due to her work, she opened up the world to the combination of brain images and art.

One of Dunn's many work of arts (Dunn)

Greg Dunn was an artist that I found who created great works of art regarding the brain. Dunn had a Ph.D. in neuroscience before he committed his life to art. Due to his background in neuroscience, he applied much of it to his work. He sketched out numerous works of art on precious metals that compared the beauty of neurons to the beauty of nature. His highly detailed work is was done through a process called micro-etching which allowed him to work at microscopic levels (Lewis). Like Suzanne, his work has inspired many other artists to follow in his footsteps and change the world's perception regarding the brain and beauty.

Before this past week, I never connected the brain with art and beauty. However, after the lectures and thorough research, I've begun to see the beauty within our heads and the endless possibilities it brings.

Sources:

Ghose, Tia. Brain Cells Can Outlive the Body. Live Science, 25 Feb. 2013, www.livescience.com/27423-brain-cells-outlive-bodies.html.

 Voytek, Bradley. “Are There Really as Many Neurons in the Human Brain as Stars in the Milky Way?” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 20 May 2013, www.nature.com/scitable/blog/brain-metrics/are_there_really_as_many.

 Lewis, Tanya. Human Brain: Facts, Functions & Anatomy. LiveScience, 25 Mar. 2016, www.livescience.com/29365-human-brain.html.

 Suzanne Anker, “Butterfly in the Brain”, 2002, series of inkjet prints, Courtesy Universal Concepts Unlimited, NYC

 Vesna, Victoria. “Neuroscience Pt 1.” Desma 9.

 “Suzanne Anker.” CPW, www.cpw.org/artists/suzanne-anker/.

 Dunn, Gregg. “Homepage.” Greg Dunn Design, www.gregadunn.com/.

 Lewis, Tanya. Dazzling Images of the Brain Created by Neuroscientist-Artist. Live Science, 10 Dec. 2014, www.livescience.com/49060-brain-artwork-gallery.html.

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 22, 2018 at 5:09 PM

    Timothy, you bring up an interesting point about the fact that the way our brain works is an art in itself. How it functions and keeps us alive are very important for humans. Just food for thought, but if our brains (and the rest of our bodies) are so intricately designed and formulated, would this make God our artist? Similarly, I like how you also bring up the point that images of the brain itself are considered forms of art as well. Moreover, I never really knew about micro-etching until this week's unit.

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